Firefighters have issued a warning about charging phones in bed after a fire broke out at a Tyneside home.
Crews from Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service (TWFRS) responded to a blaze after a 999 call was made last week.
Firefighters rushed to the two-storey Whitley Bay home to find a fire in a first floor bedroom, which was later found to have been started by a charger that had been left on a bed causing it to overheat and ignite.
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“Christmas is an exciting time and we often gift each other with electrical items, however you need to take care when plugging them in and testing them out,” said TWFRS prevention and education manager Karen Soady.
“We all can become overwhelmed around this time of the year – not least the electrical sockets in our homes. Anything with a heating element should be plugged into a wall and not an extension.
“You should also avoid cheaper alternatives to chargers as they aren’t subject to the same stringent fire safety tests as legitimate products.”
Karen also reminded people to turn sockets off at the wall when they are not in use, and to check smoke detectors are in order, as “they are the first line of defence when it comes to fire”.
Anyone who needs a new smoke detector should contact TWFRS.
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