Fire Safety. Every Second Counts: A Message Inspired by Mel's Experience

Many parishioners will know our County Councillor, Mel Fordington, who works tirelessly on behalf of communities across the Hallow Division. This week, Mel shared a deeply personal experience that serves as an important reminder to us all about the importance of fire safety in our homes.

In the early hours of 10 November, Mel and her husband were woken by the sound of an alarm. At first, Mel assumed it was a car alarm, but when she investigated, she discovered that a serious fire had taken hold in their home. Thick smoke quickly filled the house, visibility disappeared, and they had only minutes to escape. Thanks to their fire alarms, their quick actions, and the rapid response of the emergency services, both were able to get out safely. Firefighters later told them that just a few more minutes could have led to a very different outcome. 

As Mel has bravely explained, one detail made a huge difference. She had previously counted the steps from her bedroom to the front door and was able to find her way through the smoke when she could not even see her own hands, when other sensory input had all but disappeared and when the only thing carrying her through was adrenaline. The experience has left a lasting impact on her, and she has asked that others learn from what happened to her family.

While none of us likes to imagine facing such an emergency, taking a few simple precautions today could save lives tomorrow:

  • Test smoke alarms regularly and make sure everyone in the household recognises the sound. Remember that young children in particular may not be woken by a fire alarm.

  • Make sure chimneys are swept annually.

  • Plan and practise your escape routes, especially from bedrooms.
  • Count the steps to exits so that you could find your way even in darkness or smoke.
  • Consider fitting plug-in night lights in hallways and on escape routes to help with orientation at night.
  • Close internal doors before going to bed. A closed door can significantly slow the spread of fire and smoke.
  • Check that any fire extinguishers are suitable, accessible and within their service dates.
  • Know where the mains electricity switch, water stop tap, and gas or LPG shut-off points are located.
  • Keep these points clearly marked and ensure other family members know where they are.
  • Consider drawing a simple plan of your home showing exits and isolation points, which could be invaluable to emergency crews in an emergency.

Mel also highlighted how important it was that she could quickly tell firefighters where the electricity and LPG supplies could be isolated when they arrived. This information helped them work safely and may have helped limit the damage to the rest of the property.

We are very relieved that Mel and her husband escaped safely, and we thank the firefighters, ambulance crews and police officers who responded so quickly and professionally that night. Most of all, we thank Mel for sharing such a difficult experience in the hope that others might be spared the same ordeal.

Please take a few minutes this week to check your alarms, review your escape plan and talk to your family about what to do in an emergency. Every second really does count. Lisa Stevens, Clerk for Grimley Parish Council

Published: 12/11/2026 Published by: Grimley Parish Council

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