Sunlight reflecting on vanity mirror sets curtains alight
Bedroom badly damaged in Newbury house fire
A NEWBURY house fire this morning (Tues) was caused by a vanity mirror placed in a window reflecting sunlight, which set curtains alight.
Two pumps from Newbury fire station were called at 11am to a mid terraced house in Berkeley Road.
No-one was in the property, emergency services were alerted by a neighbour who heard smoke alarms sounding.
Firefighters discovered a bedroom fire, extinguished by two firefighters wearing breathing apparatus using a hosereel jet.
The bedroom was 30 per cent damaged in the fire and the house smoke-logged.
Firefighters used high pressure fans to dispense the smoke, before leaving the scene at 12.30pm.
A crew manager at the scene has issued a warning to not put any mirrors. or glass objects, in windows, as these are likely to reflect sunlight and start a fire. Low sun currently increases the risk.
Photograph Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service