Elderly woman saved by smoke alarms after fire lit at unit

At approximately 11.00pm on the night of Saturday the 26th of September 2009 a residential unit at Brougham Village, Brougham Street, Christchurch was deliberately set on fire.

The sole occupied of the unit was a woman in her mid 60's. She was asleep when the fire was started and was woken when the smoke detector was activated. She was only able to make her escape from the fire as a result of the smoke detector waking her from her sleep.

The fire was extinguished by units from the Christchurch Central Fire Station.

The unit was partially destroyed and suffered major damage from smoke and water.

The attending Police and Fire Safety Officer have no doubt that if it were not for the smoke detector waking the occupant the fire would have resulted in a fatality. The sole occupant of the unit gives credit to the use of the smoke detector for saving her life.

If anyone has any information in relation to this deliberately fire at the Brougham Village on Saturday the 26th of September could they please contact Detective Colin Baillie at the Christchurch South Police Station on 03 3632586.