• Community Safety
• Firesetter Intervention Schemes
• Road Safety
  • FireBike
  • Drink/Drug Driving
  • New Driver Awareness
  • Operation Crackdown
  • Safe Drive Stay Alive
  • Tyre Safety
• Arson Reduction
• Reducing False Alarms
• Black Museum
• Community Safety Diary
• Education & Intervention
  • Schools fire education
  • Kids Zone
  • LIFE Project
  • Coaching for a safer community
• Fire Safety at Home
• Storage of petrol

Black Museum

Always follow manufacturers guidelines and never add fuel to a burning fire.

Fire caused by by the refilling of a Bio Ethanol ornamental burner

• Relevant matters
• Safety Message
• Free Smoke Alarms and Home Safety Visits

• Main Black Museum page

Relevant Matters

The occupier of a terraced house received burns to his face after re-filling an ornamental burner with bio ethanol liquid fuel.

The man thought that the burner had gone out and failed to notice that it was still burning.

When he added the fuel to the burner it burst in to flames causing burns to his face and spreading burning liquid fuel on to the settee and flooring.

The smoke alarm operated alerting the other occupants of the house who then assisted the casualty with his burns and put the fire out with a dry powder extinguisher.

The casualty was taken to hospital by ambulance and the Fire and Rescue Service checked on the extent of the damage and ensured the fire was extinguished.

Safety Message

• Always follow manufacturers guidelines
• Never add fuel to a burning fire
• Check that the flame is fully out and leave for at least 10 minutes before filling
• Never over fill the fuel reservoir
• Never leave a lit Bio Ethanol burner unattended
• Extinguish all fires when leaving a room or before going to sleep using the lid or flame killer provided
• Keep fireboxes and burners away from combustible furnishings
• Keep fireboxes and burners away from children and pets
• Regularly clean and check containers for damage and never use a leaking container.
• Always place fireboxes and burners on a stable surface
• Always use Bio Ethanol burners in a well-ventilated room.
• Never put your hand in the burning flames or fuel.
• Clean away fuel spills on furnishings or skin with a damp cloth and dry completely
• Light fires with an extended leg lighter or extra-long match, do not discard matches in the burner

Free Smoke Alarms and Home Safety Visits

East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service offer free smoke alarms and home fire safety visits to eligible homes across East Sussex and the City of Brighton & Hove.

If you would like further information or advice on either a domestic or commercial safety matter or would like to request a free Home Safety Check, please contact the Community Safety Team free of charge on 0800 1777069.

You can also make a request online by completing our online Home Safety Request Form

Do you have a similar story

Finally, we would be interested to hear from you if you have had a similar experience to the fire detailed above, or would like to raise any related matters or even just generally comment on how useful you found our Black Museum. Please send us your details and a comments via our on-line feedback form.