A toddler's tears turned to joy after his cuddly toy set alight in a freak accident but fire crews later presented him with his own little firefighter bear.
AJ Day’s fluffy donkey was lying on the window ledge at his Blacon home when the sun’s rays reflected on to it from a vanity mirror, sparking a small blaze involving paper and the toy.
His mum Annie Evans had descended the stairs to find a lot of white smoke in the living room.
She quickly called 999 and was advised to leave the house, taking her partner and three-year-old son AJ with her.
Chester firefighters soon arrived at the Bridgeman Road property preventing any serious damage during the incident earlier this month (July).
But Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service is now urging residents to avoid keeping mirrors next to windows.
Firefighter Richard Whitely sat down with the family’s young toddler to explain how the fire started and present him with the service’s ‘Blaze Bear’ which soon cheered him up. AJ was very taken with the bear whom he renamed ‘Fire Teddy.’
Incident commander Paul Donaghy said: “This is an example of how a seemingly harmless act of placing a mirror by a window ledge could potentially be very dangerous. In actual fact, keeping mirrors next to a window can concentrate the sun’s rays, causing nearby objects – such as curtains, clothing, paper or furniture – to set fire.”
Had the fire gone unnoticed, it could have spread across the living room, posing a serious risk to the family of three.
“The family actually did have hard wired smoke detectors fitted but these did not operate at the time, proving that it’s essential for people to check their smoke alarm regularly, to ensure it’s working effectively,” commented Paul.
It’s not just beauty mirrors which pose a risk of fire. Fish bowls and glasses of water should also be kept away from windows to reduce the risk of a fire breaking out.
AJ’s mum Annie said: “I opened the living room to find it filled smoke and I panicked as I didn’t know where the smoke was coming from. After calling the fire and rescue services, I couldn’t believe it had come from the mirror on the window ledge! I didn’t even know that was possible. The sun wasn’t even that strong.
“I would strongly advise everyone to pay attention to this story and to avoid leaving reflective items near windows at all costs.”
Asked about Blaze Bear, Annie reported: “AJ absolutely loves his new bear. He took him to school today and told all of the teachers the story. His other teddy, the one who was burnt, is now upstairs in bed with bandages on!”
Click on this link to the fire service website to complete an online home safety check .
Anyone aged 65 years and over, who lives in Cheshire, can arrange a visit by a firefighter or a community safety advocate who will offer advice and fit free smoke alarms if necessary. A home safety visit for over 65s can be booked via the website by clicking here.
