A devastated British couple returned from holiday to discover their home had been gutted by a fire sparked by a charging vacuum cleaner.
The blaze ripped through a bedroom while the unsuspecting homeowners were away.
But remarkably, the fire burned itself out before spreading through the rest of their Peterborough home – because the couple had closed every internal door before leaving.
READ MORE: Brit Commonwealth gold medallist, 41, missing abroad for TWO MONTHS
Firefighters said the lack of oxygen prevented the flames from spreading and potentially causing even more devastating damage, as reported by Need To Know.
Crews from Dogsthorpe White Watch were called to the property during the early hours of Saturday (15 August) after the couple returned home.
Shocking footage released by Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service shows the charred aftermath inside the bedroom.
The walls and ceiling were left blackened by smoke, while the bed, bedding and other belongings suffered extensive damage.
Fire investigators discovered a vacuum cleaner had been left charging while the couple were on holiday.
It had developed an electrical fault without their knowledge, sparking the blaze.
A Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue 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.”
Firefighters said the incident highlighted how something as simple as shutting internal doors could help prevent flames and smoke from rapidly spreading through a home.
The spokesperson said: “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 service also urged holidaymakers to unplug charging devices before leaving their homes unattended.
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.”
READ MORE: Mysterious Iron Age pit containing human remains could be ancient HOT TUB
