A fire door saved the life of a young man whose Devon flat was gutted in a blaze, according to the fire service.
The case has been highlighted by the British Woodworking Federation (BWF) as evidence of fire doors’ importance.
The 22-year-old man was asleep in his flat in Newton Abbot when a blaze started in a nearby bedroom.
Flames caused extensive damage to the ceiling, roof, floor, windows, guttering and sitting room, with firefighters having to use a hydraulic platform, ladder and breathing apparatus to enter the flat.
But the fire door separating the man’s bedroom from the rest of the flat left him unscathed. A white shirt hanging on the back of the door was also found unmarked.
Commnity fire office Dave Roddy said: “There is no doubt this fire door saved the man’s life. The flat was gutted and this was a really severe fire. The chap had closed the door while he had a sleep and it literally saved his life.”
The BWF’s Certifire Fire Door and Doorset Scheme supports the message that fire doors, not just smoke alarms, help save lives.
