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Fire damages deaf couple's home - Local News - Bay of Plenty Times
Firefighters had to smash their way into a deaf couple's home yesterday after a fire broke out in the kitchen.
Tauranga Fire Brigade senior station officer Len Sabin said firefighters arrived at the Waihi Rd property about 8am to see smoke billowing from the eves of a flat.
"En route we were told that there was a deaf couple living there," he said.
A neighbour in the flat opposite had seen the smoke and raised the alarm, unsure if the middle-aged couple were home.
After searching the house wearing breathing gear, firefighters found the couple were not home and got to work extinguishing the fire, believed to have started in the electrics of a combination dishwasher and stove-top.
Mr Sabin said the couple had a smoke alarm for the hearing-impaired installed in their home - but it was not plugged in.
While they were not home at the time, Mr Sabin said the extra loud alarm may have been heard by the neighbour who could have raised the alarm.
"It probably would have meant that we could have got there a lot quicker," he said.
The fire caused "significant damage" to the kitchen and smoke damage to the remainder of the house, he said.
"It's one thing having a smoke alarm, it's another thing making sure that it actually works," he said.
Firefighters also had to force their way into the adjoining flat, where no one was home, to ensure the fire had not spread.
"At that time of the morning you don't know.
You can't assume that people have gone to work, you can't assume anything," he said.
Mr Sabin did not recommend leaving home with large appliances still working.
"People would be well advised to think twice with dishwashers, clothes driers, washing machines running because they do cause problems from time to time," he said.
Mr Sabin said the owner of the rental property was insured.
"To her credit she was extremely relieved to see that the people were ok and that was nice to see, rather than worrying about her property," he said.
Firefighters had to smash their way into a deaf couple's home yesterday after a fire broke out in the kitchen.
Tauranga Fire Brigade senior station officer Len Sabin said firefighters arrived at the Waihi Rd property about 8am to see smoke billowing from the eves of a flat.
"En route we were told that there was a deaf couple living there," he said.
A neighbour in the flat opposite had seen the smoke and raised the alarm, unsure if the middle-aged couple were home.
After searching the house wearing breathing gear, firefighters found the couple were not home and got to work extinguishing the fire, believed to have started in the electrics of a combination dishwasher and stove-top.
Mr Sabin said the couple had a smoke alarm for the hearing-impaired installed in their home - but it was not plugged in.
While they were not home at the time, Mr Sabin said the extra loud alarm may have been heard by the neighbour who could have raised the alarm.
"It probably would have meant that we could have got there a lot quicker," he said.
The fire caused "significant damage" to the kitchen and smoke damage to the remainder of the house, he said.
"It's one thing having a smoke alarm, it's another thing making sure that it actually works," he said.
Firefighters also had to force their way into the adjoining flat, where no one was home, to ensure the fire had not spread.
"At that time of the morning you don't know.
You can't assume that people have gone to work, you can't assume anything," he said.
Mr Sabin did not recommend leaving home with large appliances still working.
"People would be well advised to think twice with dishwashers, clothes driers, washing machines running because they do cause problems from time to time," he said.
Mr Sabin said the owner of the rental property was insured.
"To her credit she was extremely relieved to see that the people were ok and that was nice to see, rather than worrying about her property," he said.