Four people, including two children, were taken to hospital following a fire in the basement of a four-flat-property in St Helier, which had no working smoke detectors.

One person was rescued from the top floor after smoke from a blaze in an electrical cupboard travelled through several flats in the building on St Mark's Road.

The fire service has revealed not one of the four flats in the property has a working smoke detector.

Station Commander Paul McGrath says in a fire more people die from smoke inhalation than from burns.

"If working smoke alarms were in place, the residents would have had warning of the fire and been able to evacuate the building, safely, in plenty of time."

Multiple 999 calls were received just before 8:00 pm on Wednesday (8 January) reporting the fire.

Three fire engines were sent to the scene and two firefighters in breathing apparatus entered the basement to extinguish the flames.

Paramedics took two adults and two children to A&E. They have all been discharged since.

Jersey Fire and Rescue Service says everyone should have working smoke detectors in their home, and in shared hallways.

To ensure you and your family are fully protected follow this advice:

• Fit a minimum of one working smoke alarm on every level of your home, preferably in a circulation space such as a hallway or landing,
• Fit additional alarms in other rooms that are regularly inhabited and where there could be a risk of a fire starting,
• Do not fit a smoke alarm in your kitchen, bathroom or garage (if used as a garage),
• Test your alarms at least monthly, by pressing the test button until the alarm sounds. If the alarm ever starts to ‘beep’ regularly, replace the battery as soon as possible,
• If you experience a false alarm (and there is no fire), you can silence the alarm by pressing the same test button,
• After 10 years, replace your smoke alarm.