Fish in flap after tank fire at flat

Thursday 19 May 2016

A load of fish were in hot water this week after their tank caught fire at a flat in St Peter.

Firefighters had to rescue 18 fish after the blaze in their home at Beaumont that they say was caused by a faulty electrical transformer connected to the tank's lights.

Neighbours called them out after hearing the flat's smoke alarm going off and smelling smoke coming from the fire that had started in a cupboard underneath the fishes' glass tank and had spread around the back of it, damaging the wall behind.

Firefighters arrived to find the flat full of smoke but discovered that the tank's glass had cracked and the fishes' water had already poured out, putting out the flames.

The fish were left flapping around at the bottom of the empty tank and the crew had to fish them out and put them in a couple of saucepans full of water so that they could swim around.

It's the second fire they have been to this week caused by electrical appliances overheating and they are giving out this advise to reduce the risk of electrical fires in your home:

• Hot plugs and sockets, fuses that blow regularly, flickering lights and browning or scorch marks on sockets – these are all signs of loose wiring or other problems that should be fixed;

• Badly wired plugs - if you see the coloured wires, they can come loose or debris can get into the plug;

• Split or frayed power leads - these should not just be taped over as this is not a secure repair; they should be replaced;

• Overloaded sockets - too many electrical appliances plugged into one socket can cause overheating. It is safer to use a strip adaptor on a lead rather than a block adaptor. Don't plug an adaptor into an adaptor and don't overload it, the total current plugged into the adaptor should not exceed 13 amps (for example: a TV may use a three amp plug and a vacuum cleaner may use a five amp plug. A kettle alone uses 13 amps);

• Cables under rugs or carpets - they can wear through without anyone noticing;

• Servicing - electrical appliances (especially the ones that run at high speeds like washing machines) should be serviced every year;

• Correct fuses? - Use the correct fuse as they are specifically designed to prevent overheating.

 (Picture credit: Jersey Fire & Rescue)