Smoke alarm reminder after animals killed in Littlehampton fire
A family narrowly escaped after theirs didn't work
People in West Sussex are being reminded about the importance of checking smoke alarms regularly following a fire in Littlehampton.
Firefighters were called to the property in The Blatchen in the early hours of Saturday morning.
All residents were able to safely get out of the building before crews arrived, however the family's pet cat and hedgehog did not survive the blaze.
It was found that the property’s smoke alarm had been taken down because the battery was low and had started beeping.
Firefighters remained in the area on Saturday delivering leaflets on home fire safety and offering advice.
Nicki Peddle, West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service’s Head of Prevention, said:
“We really cannot overstate the importance of having a working smoke alarm on every floor of your property. If the worst happens and a fire breaks out, having a working smoke alarm will warn you that something is wrong, giving you the greatest chance of evacuating the property quickly and safely.
“We would encourage all residents to take part in Test It Tuesday and make a habit of testing their smoke alarms once a week.
"If your smoke alarm starts to beep, that means that the battery needs to be changed. Your smoke alarm will still continue to function while it is beeping, but you should change the battery as a matter of priority.
"If your smoke alarm has a built in battery the smoke alarm will need to be replaced."