HOMEOWNERS are being reminded of the importance of working smoking alarms after an inquest heard that one helped raise the alarm at a house fire in Royal Wootton Bassett.

Rosemary Ashley died at her home in Brynards Hill in the early hours of June 9 after a fire broke out in her bedroom.

At her inquest in Salisbury on Wednesday, the coroner’s court heard that her husband Brian, who is known by his middle name Viv, was first alerted to the blaze when a fire alarm at the home started to go off at 3.30am.

He escaped the fire but despite firefighters’ best efforts, Rosemary, 70 could not be saved.

Statistics show that people are more than twice as likely to die in a fire at home if there is no working smoke alarm

And, following the inquest, Dorset And Wiltshire Fire And Rescue Service hope to encourage more homeowners to buy smoke alarms.

They say that smoke alarms are the easiest way to be alerted to the danger of fire, giving people precious time to escape and the more alarms a home has, the safer its residents will be.

They recommend at a minimum that householders should have one on each floor of the house.

The fire service say that in order to ensure smoke alarms are safe, they should be tested once a week, have the batteries changed once a year and the whole unit should be replaced every ten years.

Firefighters also offer free Safe And Well visits, with priority given to people who live alone, are mobility-impaired or disabled, are over 65, who live on boats or whose home is thatched.

During the visit, free smoke alarms are fitted and advice is given on using electricity safely, cooking safely, making an escape plan, what to do if there is a fire and keeping children safe.

It is hoped Rosemary’s inquest will encourage more people to sign up for a visit.

Safe And Well co-ordinator Tracy Jenkins said: “We want people to be as safe as they can be at home, which is why we promote smoke alarms and offer these free Safe And Well visits.

“There is also a wealth of information on our website at www.dwfire.org.uk/your-safety to help you stay safe.”

Call 0800 038 2323 or visit www.dwfire.org.uk/safe-and-well-visits.