Warning for holidaymakers after electrical fire

17/08/2026

A couple returned from a recent holiday to discover there has been a fire in their home.

Firefighters from Dogsthorpe White Watch were called to a house in Peterborough in the early hours of Saturday morning, after the couple returned from holiday to find a fire had ripped through their bedroom.

A fire service spokesperson said: “This was a distressing situation to find after being away. There was significant damage to the room, however because all the doors in the house were closed, the fire couldn’t spread and burned itself out due to lack of oxygen.

"This shows the importance of closing doors around the home, especially at night or when going away on holiday. This helps protect the home from fire spreading and causing significant damage, as well as protecting people while asleep." 

The fire was caused by a charging electrical device.

The spokesperson added: “A vacuum cleaner was left on charge while the couple was away, which had developed a fault that they were unaware of. This shows the importance of making sure all electrical devices are switched off before going on holiday, especially battery chargers.”

More information about fire safety can be found in our Home Safety section.