Sunlight blamed for house fire in Basingstoke
Firefighters issue safety advice
Sunlight refracting through a glass object has caused serious damage to two properties in Basingstoke.
On Saturday Basingstoke crews were alerted to a fence fire which had spread to two properties on Dorset Crescent.
Wearing breathing apparatus, firefighters used hose reel jets to extinguish the fire before ventilation fans cleared smoke from the properties.
Crews conducted home fire safety visits before returning to their base.
A HFRS spokesperson said:
"This serves as an important reminder to ensure that glass ornaments and mirrors are kept out of sunlight, particularly in this hot weather period.
"Glass objects can refract and magnify the sun’s rays leaving your property at risk of fire."