PETERBOROUGH
A couple returned from holiday to find their bedroom heavily damaged by a fire that started while they were away, Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service said. Crews were called to a house on Garton End Road at around 8 a.m. on Aug. 15.
The fire was caused by a vacuum cleaner left on charge during the couple's absence. The device had developed an electrical fault the owners were unaware of, according to the fire service.
The fire caused significant damage to the bedroom but did not spread to other rooms. Closed interior doors cut off oxygen supply and the blaze burned itself out before reaching adjacent spaces.
Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue released footage of the damaged room and the remains of the vacuum cleaner. The service issued a public warning urging residents to switch off all electrical devices before leaving their homes and to keep internal doors closed.
"This shows the importance of closing doors around the home, especially at night or when going away on holiday," the fire service said. "This helps protect the home from fire spreading and causing significant damage."
The service also warned against leaving battery chargers plugged in when away, citing the risk of electrical faults.
