Family flees blaze caused by cigarette
A FAMILY had a lucky escape when a discarded cigarette caused a blaze which destroyed a bedroom.
Grandmother Jacqueline Mayer had emptied an ashtray into a bin and left her room to take her morning shower when the fire started.
When the 55-year-old smelled smoke minutes later, she returned to the bedroom to find the blaze had already taken hold.
Her husband John fetched water to try to extinguish the flames, but it was too late.
Mrs Mayer said: "I was only gone about four minutes. When I opened the bedroom door the flames were already going up the wall. I had a curtain covering the wardrobe and that had gone up. It was awful.
"It was unbelievable how fast it spread – if we'd gone out somewhere we would've lost the whole house."
Mrs Mayer's 12-year-old granddaughter, Kimberley Mayer, and son Anthony's partner, Kelly Hughes, were downstairs when the fire broke out, at around 10.15am on Saturday.
Everyone was safely out of the Aspire Housing-owned property, in Gilbert Close in Kidsgrove, when firefighters arrived to tackle the blaze.
There were two smoke alarms fitted in the house, but only one was working.
Mrs Mayer's bedroom was gutted, and smoke damage caused to the whole of the upstairs.
She said: "Every single item of clothing I had has gone. I've had to beg, borrow and steal so I've got something to wear. My bag was in there and the heat melted my purse.
"Aspire have been good and offered to put us up in a hotel, but we would rather stay here and get the place sorted out.
"We're living downstairs and waiting for someone to come round and assess the damage."
Mrs Mayer's son Scott and his partner Michelle Lightfoot also live at the house. Scott, aged 31, said: "I was out at the time and came back to see the fire engine and firefighters in my mum's bedroom. All sorts of things were going on in my mind. I was so relieved that everyone was OK."
Mrs Mayer, who has lived in the house for 25 years, said she will dispose of her cigarettes more carefully from now on. She said: "This has certainly been a wake-up call. It's scary how fast the fire got going, and I would tell other people to be careful. We're just really lucky nobody was hurt."
Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service also warned smokers of the dangers of causing fires in their homes.
Station manager Mick Daniels said: "Tobacco is designed to stay lit, so cigarettes and cigars can easily start an accidental fire, especially if you are tired, not alert or have been drinking alcohol. We would urge smokers to either kick the habit altogether, smoke outside their property or ensure they always extinguish their cigarettes properly, especially last thing at night.
"Had this fire occurred during the hours of darkness then the outcome may well have been different."
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by Johntoe, Stokie up north
Wednesday, January 13 2010, 8:21PM
“Andi, erm.... you could try indoor tennis in a padded room using paper raquets and a baloon, but remember to wear safety clothing, and remember IF you hurt yourself there are people who would deny you any medical treatment cause its your own fault,”
by Warren, Meir
Tuesday, January 12 2010, 8:46PM
“I feel for the lady, but lets face fact, it was her carelessness with old tab ends that kicked this lot off. I think it only right that the famliy pay outright for repears to the house.
And may I give the award for stateing the ruddy obveus this week to Fire Station Manager Mick Daniels, have you got a light boy.”
by anon, tunstall
Tuesday, January 12 2010, 8:27PM
“I don't smoke, and I don't go round patroniseing other peoples habits.
All you anti- people want is ban this and ban that.
Are you sure you are not throwbacks from 1940 Germany, because thats how that started.”
by Andi, Stoke
Tuesday, January 12 2010, 8:02PM
“Johntoe me and the good lady have just tried the bubble wrap idea you gave , and we fell over and missed the bed .We couldn't stop laughing for an hour . Anymore ideas like that to make the evenings go quicker ?”
by Johntoe, STOKIE up north
Tuesday, January 12 2010, 7:34PM
“Phil, I certainly don't have a problem with that, because it has an effect on others, I had no argument against the pub ban either for the same reason, I didn't LIKE it, but couldn't argue against it,
see I am reasonable me,”
by Phil., Biddulph
Tuesday, January 12 2010, 7:10PM
“Is it ok to ban people from smoking around kids? They dont have the choice?”
by Johntoe, STOKIE up north
Tuesday, January 12 2010, 6:53PM
“Kerry Anne,
I have a life thanks, and its a life in which I think for myself and in which I make my own choices, I wouldn't advise anyone to smoke, but would defend their right to do so if they want to,
see thats the problem with a lot of people in this country, if its something I dont do and it is a tad unhealthy BAN it, first reaction every time, some people then resort to insults and personal abuse,
I dont drive I think it should be against the law to eat,drink, smoke, talk, have a cd player or radio in a car because they ALL distract the driver, not really, But they are all valid points, the POINT I am trying to make is where do we stop banning things.? Because once the "banners" ban smoking they will be looking for the next thing to save us from,
and then the next etc etc,
being alive is dangerous and we ALL die one day, and I will take quality over quantity any day.”
by kerrry ann, Forsbrook
Tuesday, January 12 2010, 6:11PM
“As for you Johntoe... if it was a relative of yours... how would you react... or still being if a relative of yours dieed beacuse they so stupidly was smoking in bed....
i agree ban smoking... when people start getting ill from the horrible white stick they put in there mouth . and then going crying to the docs for help i say stuff them.. its them that put that cancer stick in there gobbs... it smells makes there breath smell, yellow teeth god only knows what the stae of there lungs are like..... get a life mate”
by Johntoe, STOKIE up north
Tuesday, January 12 2010, 5:34PM
“HERE we go, someone has a smoking related accident and all the sheeple wring their hands in self righteous indignation, the name calling starts, the ban everything I dont do or agree with mob jerk their knees and sound off their spoon fed opinions without once engaging their brains,.
RIGHT, smoking is bad for you, my advice DONT do it and certainly dont do it in bed, thats that out of the way,
DRINK kills people should we ban that? driving kills people ban all un necessary driving? something like 500 people a year die falling down the stairs in their own home, ban stairs?
many thousands of people have injured themselves slipping on ice in recent weeks, ban people from going out in bad weather?
LIFE is risky almost all human activity comes with some risk attached,
would you prefer it if everyone stayed in bed wrapped in bubble wrap? mind you, that would no doubt have some risk,
just STOP thinking that banning everything that has any risk is the only solution.”
by kerry ann, Forsbrook
Tuesday, January 12 2010, 4:49PM
“I dont think it will stop her from Smoking...
Ive knowen other folk same situation, as swore Blind they would stop, Yet they are Smoking More... Excuse know is Got Bad Nerves..... I think there should be a Ban on Smoking in Folks Houses.... Like in Public Places....”