Fires prompt smoke alarm warning

Ms Le Page was found in a back room of the house

Two serious fires in Guernsey last week have prompted the fire brigade to remind people to check smoke alarms.

One woman died after a fire in the Vale on Tuesday evening. A 64-year-old woman was left in a critical condition after a flat fire in St Peter Port on Monday.

The brigade said detectors saved hundreds of lives a year in the British Isles, but if the devices were not maintained they could become useless.

Batteries in alarms should be checked at least once a week.

The brigade also said it was advisable to sweep the detector with the nozzle of a vacuum cleaner every few months to prevent dust build-up which would affect it.