Councillor Narrowly Escapes House Fire

Mel Fordington, a councillor from Worcestershire County Council, has described her experience of narrowly escaping a house fire as "very scary". The fire broke out in the living room of her home, just outside Hallow, at about 04:00 GMT on Tuesday.

Fordington and her husband Carl were woken by the fire alarm and managed to evacuate the property through thick black smoke before the arrival of the fire service. The councillor initially thought the noise was a car alarm before discovering the fire and feeling the heat through the living room door.

The fire severely damaged the living room and destroyed many of the couple's possessions, including furniture, books, and sentimental family items such as photos. Fordington said the fire started when embers got into the living room after something damaged the chimney. She said the incident left her "emotional" but she wanted to use the experience to warn others about the importance of preparing for such an event.

Fordington advised that people should have a clear plan, memorise the quickest way out, and ensure exits are not blocked. She said that every person and child should have a planned route and make sure their exit points are always clear.