Firefighters urge people to Be Warm, Be Safe following house fire

We're urging people to stay safe during the cold weather snap after a house fire in Bilbook was caused by a portable heater.

Crews were called at 10.10pm on Monday 10 November to a house on Manor House Park following reports of a fire.

Three appliances attended the scene and found a small fire in the lounge which was extinguished using a hose reel jet.

A woman in her 80s was taken to hospital by colleagues from West Midlands Ambulance Service for precautionary checks.

The fire was later deemed to be caused accidentally, by an electric portable heater catching fire.

Station Manager Tim Hollingworth, who attended the scene, said: “As the weather gets colder, more people will be looking for cost-effective ways to heat their homes, but it is crucial that this is done safely.

“Portable heaters should always be kept away from clothing and other materials and they should always be plugged into the wall, rather than extension leads because they can easily be overloaded and overheat.”

For more safety tips, visit our Be Warm. Be Safe campaign which encourages people to stay warm safely this winter: Be Warm. Be Safe.