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Britain’s Heatwave Claims House After Glass Table Reflects Sunlight

Britain’s Heatwave Claims House After Glass Table Reflects Sunlight

Firefighers were called to a residence in Knypersley in Stoke-on-Trent in England, at approximately 3:40 p.m. on Monday afternoon after a house caught on fire.

The inferno started as a direct result of Britain’s current heatwave – a glass table in the family’s backyard reflected sunlight into the house. Firefighters rushed to the residence to bring the blaze under control, with a Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service spokesman saying;

“Crews from Newcastle and Kidsgrove attended and the detached property was well alight on arrival. Some of the decking at the back of the house had to be cut away as crews extinguished the fire.

It was caused by sunlight reflecting on a glass table outside in the back garden. The occupier was upstairs by managed to get out of the house safely. Please take care during this heatwave and be mindful of keeping reflective items, such as mirrors or glass, out of direct sunlight.”

Thankfully no one was injured in the fire, however residents have been told not to keep glass objects or mirrors in direct sunlight. Reflected sunlight can still prove to be incredibly dangerous, as it can cause sunlight to be concentrated in a single area for a prolonged period – similar to how people torture ants with a magnifying glass.

Another house caught on fire on Tuesday after sunlight was reflected off a mirror, igniting nearby materials. This house was in Barton-under-Needwood, approximately 40 miles from Knypersley.