Fire crews warn of bed warmers

The elderly woman had gone to bed with a microwaved wheat bag on the night of Wednesday, September 28 and fallen asleep, when her smoke alarm was set off by the wheat bag catching fire.

A spokesman for South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue said: “The woman managed to carry the bag to the bathroom and put the fire out with water, before making her way downstairs to the front door.

“She was treated for smoke inhalation by ambulance crews but did not need to attend hospital.

“Firefighters from Edlington and Doncaster arrived to find smoke issuing from the bedroom window and the house smoke-logged, but the fire out, with only the bedding scorch-marked.

“They were told by the occupant that she would not have woken up if it had not been for the smoke alarm.”

The spokesman added: “ Firefighters are urging people to ensure their elderly friends and relatives have working smoke alarms fitted. People should also check electric blankets before their first use of the year.”