h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I was at a talk by a couple of fire firghters yesterday on fire prevention and precautions. There is some advice which sort of conflicts with itself around warning and protection and I wanted to share it with you.

A smoke alarm will detect the early stages of a smouldering fire when you could still probably put it out with a glass of water or by stamping on it. This is still about 15 minutes before it gets really dangerous - thus giving you plenty of time to get out if it has gone a little further.

BUT if you close all of the room doors (which you should as a protective measure each night) and the fire starts inside the room with the closed door (probably the room with the TV in it) the smoke alarm will still give you plenty of notice but the smoke will only get to the smoke alarm when the room is well ablaze and probably beyond saving. The door will protect you from the flames for plenty of time if you don't open it.

TIP if you or a loved one sleeps in a room with a tv, computer or other electrical equipment fit a smoke alarm INSIDE the room - otherwise the rest of the family will only be warned when that person is beyond saving.

In the UK they only cost about GBP4 so they are cheap enough!