Mum Vivien Jones was lucky to escape unhurt from a fire in a house with no smoke detector.

Mrs Jones, of Ashlong Road, Marston, Oxford, raised the alarm after fire broke out in a bin in the kitchen, causing an estimated £2,000 damage.

Fire officer Kevin Parfitt said: "We want to reiterate the importance of having smoke alarms fitted.

"Had there been one, we might have been alerted earlier." Mrs Jones was treated at the scene by paramedics for smoke inhalation and was comforted by staff manning a new British Red Cross mobile unit which supports fire and flood victims. It was the unit's first outing since its launch on Tuesday night.

The Red Cross vehicle will follow crews to serious emergencies and provide practical help, including a telephone to contact relatives and friends.

*The Oxford Mail is backing a campaign to get fire alarms fitted in every home in the county.

Story date: Thursday 08 April

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