MAWWFRS Issue Warning About Candle And Joss Stick Fire Safety Following Penlan Fire

On Saturday 28 May, firefighters from Swansea Central and Morriston attended a house fire in Penlan, Swansea. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The small fire occurred in the living room of a ground floor flat and was caused by either a candle or joss stick. The crews used 2 Breathing Apparatus, 1 Hose Reel Jet, 1 Thermal Imaging Camera and Positive Pressure Ventilation to extinguish the fire. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Unfortunately, the incident resulted in the fatality of a dog. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Also in attendance at the incident were Police and Ambulance. Firefighters left the incident at 10.36am. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

MAWWFRS would like to take this opportunity to advise the public on candle and incense safety. The potential consequences are severe and can cost lives. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Arson Reduction Manager Will Bowen has this simple advice to enjoy candles and incense safely, ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

• “Never leave candles or incense burners unattended.
• Never light candles, burners or cigarettes when you are tired or sleepy.
• They must always be placed away from soft furnishings and on a non-flammable surface such as a plate or tile – wherever possible a proper candle / incense holder should be used.
• Keep the candle or burner away from curtains.
• Keep them out of the reach of children who may want to play with them and also out of the reach of any animals who may knock them over.
• Always have working smoke alarms fitted throughout your home and test them regularly”. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Please call us call us on 0800 169 1234 or text us on 07756847123 to discuss a home safety visit by Fire and Rescue Service personnel. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​