New Year''s Day fire highlights mattress safety
04/01/2010
People must be more careful in bed with items designed to keep them warm when on their mattress, it has been asserted, following a fire caused by a wheat bag.
The blaze, which took hold of a mattress in Wrexham at 02:00 GMT on January 1st, was caused by a wheat bag which had been overheated, causing it to smoulder and set fire to the mattress, which resulted in the woman escaping, though needing treatment for smoke inhalation.
Station manager for the Wrexham county office of the North Wales Fire and Rescue Service John Berry said: "This woman had a lucky escape. There was potential for nasty consequences.
"This incident was totally accidental, but we ask that people use these wheat grain bags in the correct way."
Last month, Karen Youso of the Star Tribune recommended that individuals with diabetes avoid using electric blankets, as those with the condition are less likely to feel heat and could therefore burn themselves or cause a fire in their home.
Posted by Michael Ewing
