Suffolk care home blaze highlights fire safety issues

An elderly man suffered minor injuries following a fire at a care home in Suffolk last Wednesday evening.
The resident of Farnish House in Botesdale had to undergo treatment for minor burns after he became trapped after bedding in one of the rooms caught fire.

Other inhabitants of the 20-bedroom sheltered housing complex on Chapel Lane used windows to exit the building, as the bedding which was on fire was blocking one of the main routes for evacuation.

The fire service has confirmed that it had to rescue one man and lead another two people to safety from the smoke-filled care home.

This situation just goes to show how important it is to ensure all staff is given the appropriate fire awareness training as leaving burning materials to block an evacuation route could have led to tragedy.

The Fire Safety in Residential Care Homes course is made specifically for this purpose, to raise awareness of the issues that surround care homes and how to consider the elderly people who live there. It is therefore necessary to consider the safe evacuation of such a building and follow set procedures in ensuring the safety of residents in the event of a fire.