A mother and her four children have been left with nothing after a fire ripped through their rented home in Wimborne, Dorset, in the early hours of 28 July.

Investigators believe the blaze began near a desktop computer in a teenage son’s bedroom. The fire quickly spread through the property, forcing the family to flee around 03:00 GMT.

Deborah Logan-Collingburn said the experience still did not feel real and described the devastation as total, adding that her family “lost everything”.

She is now living with her children in temporary two-bedroom accommodation and wants to raise awareness of the risks associated with technology in the home.

According to investigators, the fire is thought to have been sparked by a fault in the computer on the teenager’s desk.

Fire service safety advice

Following the incident, Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service issued a reminder to households about the risks of charging or leaving electrical devices running overnight.

The service advised people to:

• Avoid leaving equipment plugged in to charge overnight
• Fully shut down computers after use
• Keep laptops and similar devices off soft furnishings
• Close internal doors before going to bed

The fire service also warned that charging devices while asleep increases the risk of fires going undetected. People are encouraged to charge electronics during the day, when they are more likely to be alert to any signs of overheating or smoke.

View the source.

Our eNews provides regular insight into industry trends, news headlines, and product and service information. For more articles like this Subscribe to our enews.