House fire caused by the sun's reflection on glass ornament sparks warning from Northamptonshire firefighters

Crews from Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service attended 37 fires across the county last week with causes including unattended cooking, poorly discarded cigarettes, electrical and mechanical faults and out of control bonfires.

However, the county service also attended two fires caused by the sun’s reflections on household items.

A spokesman for Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service said|: “One of these fires was in a property on Chestnut Drive in Thrapston that we were called to shortly before 12.30pm on Tuesday afternoon (March 17).

"The fire was out on the arrival of crews from Thrapston and Rushden, but had caused some smoke damage, and one person was left in the care of EMAS.

"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.”

To help prevent fires caused by reflected sunlight, the fire service has issued the following advice:

- Move mirrors, crystals and glass ornaments off windowsills and out of direct sun paths, especially considering reflective items near curtains, bedding, or clothing

- Be mindful of shady spots that can become sunny later in the day

- Keep reflective materials such as glass bottles away from sunny areas in the garden to prevent grass or litter fires - this is particularly important in the dry summer months

Fitting smoke alarms in your home will provide an early warning sign in the event of a fire and allow vital extra time to escape. Check your smoke alarms regularly to ensure they are working.