Woman 'slept through smoke alarm'

The woman slept through the smoke alarm

A quick-thinking neighbour may have saved the life of a woman who slept through a smoke alarm during a flat fire in the Isle of Man.

The woman called the emergency services after hearing the alarm next door at Lheannag Park in Douglas.

Her neighbour, a woman in her 40s, was given oxygen after suffering from the effects of breathing in smoke, but declined hospital treatment.

The fire is believed to have been caused by a discarded cigarette.

Damage limited

Station Officer Tony Varley, of Douglas station, said the victim was unaware of the fire developing in the kitchen and was awoken by the neighbour's knocks on her door.

He praised her "quick and prompt" actions, adding: "If the fire had gone on another 10 minutes who knows what might have happened."

Fire crews found a discarded cigarette had fallen into a box of tissues and began to smoulder, causing the fire.

"Fortunately fire damage was contained to the surrounding area and the smoke damage was limited," Mr Varley added.