Heater ignites drying clothes in the kitchen, in Ryedale, UK - No injury

On thursday 2nd April 2009, around 5.35am, a family of nine had a lucky escape when a smoke alarm alerted them to a blaze in the kitchen of their Ryedale home (near Malton, UK). The family – which included seven children – evacuated the house to safety, but fire crews had to rescue their pet Springer Spaniel. A North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service (NYFRS) spokesman said: “The family had a fortunate escape and this was believed to be due to the fact that their smoke alarm alerted them to this and they were able to get out before the smoke became too dense within the property.” The blaze was caused by clothes that had been left to dry too close to a heater in the kitchen. The fire also caused smoke damage to the room and throughout the rest of the property.