Two rescued from kitchen fires

Crews were called to two blazes in Londonderry

The public have been urged to check their smoke alarms after two people were rescued from separate kitchen fires in Londonderry.

Fire officers were called to a blaze at a house in the Temple Park area of the city at about 1930 BST on Saturday.

The male occupant had been overcome by smoke and fumes and was rescued by two neighbours.

In a separate incident, a firemen saved a woman from a fire in Kylemore Park at about 2300 BST. She was taken to hospital.

Neither person was seriously injured and none of the neighbouring houses had to be evacuated.

However, station officer Mark Darryl said people must check their smoke alarms regularly.

"Whilst there was smoke alarms in the houses, neither of them had working batteries," he said.

"We feel that if there had been batteries fitted, those few minutes may have made the difference between us having to rescue people, and them being able to get out of their own accord.

"We advise people every Monday to check their smoke alarm and if it's not working, to get a battery.

"50 or 60p can save your life."