Ross-on-Wye fire crew was called to reports of a house fire at Kent Avenue on Thursday afternoon, May 26th. The fire on the first floor of the property had been extinguished by the time they arrived and no-one was injured.

The police asked people to avoid the area at the time but there was no need to close the road. Firefighters on the scene told the Gazette that the fire had likely been caused by the sun shining through a window.

There have been numerous reports around the country of house fires caused by the sun’s rays reflecting off mirrors or other glass objects. Mirrors should never be kept next to a window, because they can concentrate the sun’s rays, causing near-by objects, such as curtains, clothing, paper or furniture to set fire.

In fact, anything that can concentrate the sun’s rays like fish bowls or glasses of water, should be kept away from windows to reduce the risk of a fire breaking out. And never put glass ornaments or paperweights on window sills, or in direct sunlight.

UPDATE: The home-owner of the property involved in the fire has since contacted the Ross Gazette. While she was in her home, she did not immediately realise the fire had broken out on the first floor. However, people walking past the house knocked on her door to alert her attention, and she is grateful to them, as something was able to be done quickly, and her home was not lost.