Fire started by sun's reflection on glass ornament

2 days ago

Alex Pope

News image — The home was damaged by the fire and smoke

Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service A living room that has been left fire and smoke damaged. A burned radiator is under a windowsill, that has four items on it, including an ET figure, a glass spherical ornament, a plant pot with a green plant in it and a dish. Two windows are open and foliage is outside. The walls are cream but burned and damaged. — The home was damaged by the fire and smoke

A home has been left damaged after curtains in a living room caught on fire when the sun reflected off a glass ornament on a windowsill.

Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service was called to the house on Chestnut Drive, Thrapston, at about 12:30 GMT on Tuesday.

The service said the fire was out by the time crews arrived and one person was left in the care of paramedics from the East Midlands Ambulance Service.

It was the second fire in a week where the blaze had been caused by the sun's reflection on a household item, it added.

Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service A large glass sphere, sitting on a living room windowsill. There are burn marks on the glass and some reflections. An item is next to the ornament. A window is behind. — A large glass ornament was positioned on the living room windowsill

The service said: "The fire was believed to have been caused by the sun reflecting off a glass ornament on a windowsill, setting light to curtains in the living room.

"While fires caused by sunlight magnifying through glass or reflective surfaces can happen all year round, heading into the brighter months please remember the following safety advice to protect your families, homes and pets."

It warned people to move mirrors, crystals and glass ornaments off windowsills and out of direct sun paths, and to make sure they were not positioned close to curtains, bedding or clothing.

It added for people to keep glass bottles away from sunny areas in the garden and to have smoke alarms fitted and tested regularly.

In the past week, the service said it had attended 37 fires caused by unattended cooking, poorly discarded cigarettes, electrical and mechanical faults and bonfires.

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