Ross Fire Station has issued a warning about ensuring smoke alarms work following a serious fire in Ross-on-Wye.West Mercia Police, two fire crews from Ross-on-Wye, and a fire crew from Fownhope attended a fire at a residential property on Ledbury Road, Ross-on-Wye at 12.14pm on Monday, June 10th.

One female casualty was treated at the scene and found to have minor injuries. The B4234 Ledbury Road at the junction with Three Crosses Road and also the A40 roundabout were closed. The police say that the road is now open again. A spokesperson for Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue told the Ross Gazette that they were keen to get the road re-opened ahead of school traffic.

The fire service reported that the occupier was at home, smelled smoke and immediately dialled 999. The first crews were confronted with a 'well developed fire' in the kitchen which was spreading rapidly up the stairs towards the open windows on the landing and the first floor.

Four firefighters wearing breathing apparatus quickly extinguished the fire using hose reels, with safety jets outside and thermal imaging cameras also in use.

A spokesperson for Ross Fire Station said: "There were no working smoke alarms at this property, so had this fire started overnight, with no early warning, this could have been a very different ending. Please make sure you have a smoke alarm on each floor and test them regularly.

"Crews also noticed an extension cable being used to power kitchen appliances whilst still coiled on its reel, although this was not the source of ignition. Electrical cables can heat up and ignite when coiled, so please make sure you unravel when they’re in use."