ISLAND fire crews cordoned off a property in Ryde this afternoon after a fire.
Fire crews from Ryde and Bembridge tackled the flat fire believed to have been caused by an electric bar fire.
Crews were called to a ground floor flat in St Johns Road just after 12.30pm today (Friday, December 10) after the young mum and her child who was in the property raised the alarm.
It is believed that the heat from the open fire set light to a sofa in the living room of the property.
Neighbours also reported seeing smoke billowing out of an open window.
Two firefighters from Ryde wearing breathing apparatus tackled a small fire before removing a smoldering fire and a carpet from the property.
Neighbours cared for the distraught mum and her baby whilst the fire service dealt with the incident.
The fire and emergency support service (FESS) volunteers ran by the Red Cross from Newport also attended, equipped with a specially adapted vehicle and provided the young mum help and suoport with sorting out temporary accommodation.
Fire crews from Ryde later returned to the property and fitted a smoke alarm to the property.
Duty officer Station Manager Dean Haywood said “This highlights the importants of having a working smoke alarm, had the woman not noticed the smoke or it had been at night we could of been dealing with a serious fire”. Mr Haywood went to explain that the Island’s fire service offer a free “Home Fire Safety Check” to residents of the Isle of wight.
The serivce will arrange to come out and fit a good for 10 years smoke alarm within the property and offer other free fire safety advice.
Any householder wishing to take up the offer is asked to call the Community Fire Safety Department on 01983 533834
