Open fire sets off fire alarms

NEIGHBOURS feared that an elderly, infirm woman may have been trapped when they heard smoke alarms going off in Eaton Place, St Michael's, Paignton.

Fire crews wearing breathing apparatus searched the semi-detached property using a thermal imaging camera and cleared smoke with a positive pressure ventilation fan and hose reel jet.

The property was found to be unoccupied.

Watch commander Nick Banks-Fay, who was in charge, said crews discovered a small fire in the living room, thought to have started in ashes cleared from the open fire.

He said: "The smoke alarms prevented a lot of damage.

"But I would warn that when people are clearing open fires, they should make sure they dispose of the ashes outside."

There was only slight damage in the fire at teatime on Tuesday, January 31.

Body found

THE body of a 22-year-old Torquay woman was discovered in a house in Western Road.

Danielle Louise Lee was found at the property on Sunday, January 29, with empty packets of prescription-type medication nearby.

An inquest has been opened and adjourned by the Torbay coroner.

It was told Ms Lee was unemployed and had mental health issues. Cause of death has yet to be established pending toxicology results but there are no suspicious circumstances.

Woman injured

A WOMAN was taken to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation after a mystery fire in a Torquay house.

Two appliances attended the fire in the house on the corner of Newton Road and Old Woods Hill at 10.45pm on Friday, January 27.