Heroic staff praised by fire hit care home boss

Buy photos » Picture by Aaron Manning.

A FIRE at a Tile Hill care home was started by a partially-lit cigarette in a coat hanging on the back of the door in a resident’s bedroom, The Observer has been told.

Around 38 elderly residents were evacuated from The Knowles in Duggins Lane by six members of staff when the blaze broke out, filling corridors with smoke.

No-one was seriously injured and care home managing director Dave Lock described his staff who were on duty at the time as heroes for leading all the residents to safety.

“Their quick-thinking and level headedness after what was a bit of a freak incident prevented the situation from becoming far worse,” he told The Observer.

“Even with the training they receive, it’s not easy to carry out such an evacuation. Many off-duty staff came in to help settle residents, which helped enormously.”

Two elderly women both in their 80s were taken to hospital, one with burns to her leg and one with smoke inhalation. Both were taken to University Hospital and were discharged the day after the fire at 5.30pm on Saturday.

Four others, three residents and one member of staff, were given oxygen at the scene. The damage was confined to the room where the blaze started and was being refurbished this week.

Mr Lock said the fire looked as if it broke out in what are believed to be very unusual circumstances, highlighting a flaw in the current fire regulations and safeguards.

He said the understanding was if a fire started in a room the smoke would rise and set off the smoke detector before any damage was done. The smoke was usually contained in the room.

“In this case, a resident is believed to have brought in a partially-lit cigarette in her coat, which fell off the back of the door onto the carpet. The window was open and fanned the flames, sending smoke under the door,” Mr Lock added.

“The consensus is the small gap under the door is not a fire risk, but this has clearly highlighted a risk and a weakness in current thinking, which I will be bringing to the attention of the authorities and pursuing a change to eliminate this risk.”