Woman Rescued From Waunfawr Home

A 94 year old woman was rescued by firefighters from her Waunfawr home this morning after a Careline system alerted North Wales Fire and Rescue Service to a fire in her home. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Crews from Caernarfon and Llanberis were called to the property at 07.52hrs this morning (Tuesday 10th May) and led the woman from her first floor bedroom to safety. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Firefighters tackled the fire affecting the boiler in the ground floor utility room using four breathing apparatus and two hose reel jets. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The woman has been transferred to hospital for precautionary checks. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The cause of the fire is thought to be a defective boiler. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Dave Evans, Partnership Manager, Gwynedd and Môn from North Wales Fire and Rescue Service, said: “This incident clearly highlights the value of these alarms in helping to protect our residents – upon arrival of the firefighters, the occupant was unaware of the fire developing downstairs. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We were notified by Careline that the smoke alarm had been activated at the property, and sent out crews to investigate. These Careline alarms are monitored 24/7 by a specialist company -therefore the call is automatically made to the fire and rescue service. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“As all the internal doors within the property were closed, this significantly slowed fire spread in the property – effectively protecting the resident. As part of a night time routine, we advise all residents to close internal doors and switch off all electrical appliances not designed to be left switched on. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The combination of the closed doors and the alarm helped prevent a tragedy here in Waunfawr this morning. This alarm proved invaluable as it gave us an early warning that there was a problem at the address and enabled emergency services to respond quickly. The incident also highlights to everyone the importance of having working smoke alarms fitted in their home. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We’ve been working with community alarm system providers across North Wales for a number of years, and are currently working towards upgrading units across the region using Welsh Government funding – helping to protect those at risk of being injured by fire within our communities.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​