FIRE crews were alerted to an alarm at a residential property in Dawlish caused by an electrical heat pad.

The alarm was raised just before 1am from an alarm monitoring company to the flat where the fire alarm was sounding.

The resident reporting smoke issuing from a heater.

Fire crews from Dawlish, Teignmouth an aerial ladder platform from Torquay were scrambled.

Crews were quickly on scene and noted a strong smell of electrical burning in the communal area of the property.

Once entry was made into the flat, involved it was soon clear that the fire had been caused by an electrical heat pad on the bed.

The flat’s occupant had moved the heat pad to the bathroom to soak with water.

A spokesman for Dawlish fire station said: ‘Fortunately the side of the bed that was damaged didn’t have anyone in it, at the time the fire occurred.

‘However both occupants in the flat were checked over as a precautionary measure by our crews and subsequently an ambulance.

‘The damage from the fire was confined to the bed, light smoke logging was cleared by our crews by natural ventilation.'

Crews also used a thermal imaging camera to check the area for any heat or fire spread.

The occupants were given advice on fire safety for electrical appliances.

The fire was deemed accidental.