Residents praise staff and emergency services after blaze at Leighton Buzzard care home

At around 6.30pm last night (April 20) residents' rooms were evacuated when the blaze started in a top floor bedroom at Westlands on Duncombe Drive.

It is believed to have been caused by a television, and the floor was swiftly evacuated thanks to the quick actions of staff.

Resident David Ireland-Smith, 66, who was in the room next door to where the fire started, told the LBO: "There was smoke coming underneath my doorway, and I was just about to soak a towel and put that along it, when someone ushered me into a safer area in a corridor behind a fire door.

"You could smell smouldering fumes - the strong smell of burning plastic.

"The fire brigade turned up in force with paramedics, and while they were doing routine tests on everyone, they also did general health checks for heart rate and blood pressure.

"They were brilliant, and with a sense of humour as well."

David informed that LBO that the fire started on the second floor, and that residents were taken to safety on the first floor or the downstairs dining room.

He added: "We were lucky that we are virtually only a few hundred yards from the fire station. What I'd also comment on is the bravery of the care home staff. The whole floor had to be evacuated and they did a fantastic job, they really did.

"All the residents will be clapping on Thursday evening at 8pm!"

Leighton Buzzard Community Fire Station wrote the following statement about the incident on its Facebook page on April 20: "Both appliances, backed up by one from Dunstable were called out at approx 6.30pm this evening.

"A fire on the top floor of an assisted living residential care home required two firefighters in BA to extinguish the fire in the bedroom.

"Within minutes the entire room was very heavily smoke logged.

"It is believed to have started accidentally from the TV.

"Quick actions from care staff meant the affected room and corridor were evacuated prior to our arrival.

"Two gentlemen were given precautionary checks by paramedics.

"A powered fan was used to clear smoke from the top floor."