Firefighters are urging Brits to keep mirrors away from their window sills at home as it could be a very serious fire hazard.
The warning from East Sussex FRS comes in the aftermath of a devastating fire they attended last month at a two storey building in Horam.
Upon investigation, the fire rescue service suspect that the flames were sparked by the sun reflecting off a mirror.
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Although crews fought off the flames with both foam and water, the fire had took hold and the whole building was affected.
Sharing a photo of the damage to social media, the East Sussex FRS shared: "It is believed that the fire was caused by the sun reflecting off a mirror.
"The sun is very low at this time of year & we are urging everyone to move objects such as mirrors away from windows."
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Commenting on the incident, fire investigator Jake Brooks said: “Due to the extent of the damage, it is not possible to say with absolute certainty what caused the fire, however a likely cause is sun reflecting off a mirror.
"The sun’s rays can become concentrated by reflective or focusing objects including mirrors, glasses, paperweights or plastic items and other items nearby start to smoulder and sometimes catch fire.
"It is a common problem seen by other Fire and Rescue Services as well as by this Service. These incidents tend to occur in rooms with south facing windows and when the sun is lower so we’re asking everyone to take a look to see whether they could be at risk.”
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Some other tips to prevent fires in your home at this time of year include:
- Consider storing objects such as magnifying glasses, mirrors, spectacles and glass ornaments away from windows, particularly if it is south facing, or covering them when not in use.
- Take extra care during the autumn and winter months when the sun is low in the sky.
- Get into the habit of closing internal doors when you leave home and as part of your bedtime routine.
- Test your smoke alarm every week.
- Don't place objects capable of focusing the sun’s rays close to the window and combustible materials such as upholstery, curtains or paper.
Ali Condon