'Faulty heater' to blame for Stafford garage blaze prompting safety warning from fire service
A faulty diesel heater was the cause of a garage blaze in a Staffordshire village resulting in two properties suffering damage.
At least 20 firefighters tackled the blaze at premises off Ivetsey Road in Wheaton Aston near Penkridge following reports of a large fire on Saturday (December 13).
Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service said five crews along with an aerial ladder attended the scene and found a large fire involving a garage and the exterior of two properties when they were called out at 3.05pm.
As a result an unnamed man was taken to hospital for precautionary checks after suffering from the effects of smoke inhalation.
The crews were sent from a number of stations and they used two hose reel jets and one main jet to douse the fire.
The service said the fire was later found to have been caused accidentally by a diesel heater.
Brigade Station Manager Ant Ball said: “Those inside the affected properties had evacuated before we got there, which significantly reduced any risk to their safety.
“I would like to remind people that when there’s a fire in the home, you should always Get Out, Stay Out and call 999.
“I would also remind people to Be Warm, Be Safe this winter and ensure that heaters are always kept a safe distance away from other materials and fuels are stored away from the heat source.”
Crews remained a the scene to dampen down the following day.
