FIREFIGHTERS were called to a house fire in Mill Lane, Oversley Green near Alcester on Saturday, January 3.

Members of Warwickshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service attended the scene at 2.45pm, where they found a small fire in a first floor bedroom. The fire was quickly extinguished and no one was injured.

It is believed blaze was caused by a heated hair brush being left turned on or possibly due to an electrical fault.

Fire chiefs and council offices are now warning those using heated hair products, which can reach hazardous temperatures of more than 190c, to be more careful.

After the incident, firefighters remained at the scene to minimise smoke damage using a specialist fan and they also provided fire safety advice.

Ken Probin, station commander at Alcester Fire Station, said: “This incident highlights just how important it is to ensure that electrical items such as heated hair stylers are switched off and unplugged after use.

“The residents living in this property were lucky as the fire happened during the day.

“Had it been during the night, we may well have been looking at a far worse scenario as the residents did not have working smoke alarms and no night time escape plan.”

Councillor Les Caborn, Warwickshire County Council’s portfolio holder for community safety, said that working smoke alarms are “vital” to ensure residents get an early warning, should a fire break out at their home.

Councillor Richard Chattaway, chair of the Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee, added: “Incidents like this provide a stark warning to residents that electrical items, especially things like heated hair stylers, should be switched off and unplugged after use.”

For more information visit warwickshire.gov.uk/firesafetycheck.