almost set the house on fire

[3littlefrogs]

Kitchen smoke alarm didn't activate until the kitchen, hall, stairs, landing and dd's bedroom were full of smoke.

Can anyone recommend a burglar alarm plus fire alarm system that links all the smoke alarms in the house, and how much would it cost?

I am still shaking - DS1 was still in bed and didn't hear the alarm (He was out at a party last night).

I need to take drastic action - what if we were all asleep?

Do you know why it didn't activate? Was the battery dead?

If so, you can buy smoke alarms that fit in your light sockets, inside the lampshade so that you don't see them. They get charged up when the light is on so no danger of the battery running low. I think they're called Fire Angel (or Smoke Angel??)

Blimey, must have been a horrible shock. The fire brigade will come round and do a fire safety check for you. Contact your local fire station.

Found them, Fire Angel.

Yes definitely contact the fire service for a visit and advice.

Fairly new battery - 10 days old. It went off ok when dh burnt the toast a couple of days ago. Don't know why it didn't work today.

I dread to think what would have happened if I had't come back when I did. Dd was at friend's house, and I had just popped out to local shop. (Ds is nearly 20, so I wasn't neglecting anyone!)

The smoke hadn't reached the alarm outside ds's room.

Scarey!

I had one of those Fire Angel ones and hated it. It kept going off accidentally if you switched the light on and off too quickly. Very annoying.

That is why I think a linked system is the answer - the alarms need to all go off together to allow people on the top floor (tall, thin victorian terrace)to get out before the smoke gets that high IYSWIM.

Very scary! We have smoke alarms in all rooms downstairs, plus one on landing and one in au pair's room. They aren't linked though. For some reason we have 2 in the kitchen and I find that if I burn the toast the 'spare' alarm which is horizontal on a shelf goes off way before the 'official' alarm which is fixed to the wall.
We had some properly wired in, linked alarms at our old house but dh fitted them himself - this was before the electrial wiring regs changed though so I guess you would need them fitted by a qualified electrician now. Dh fitted them from above ie. lifted bedroom floor to fit downstairs alarms and loft boards to fit upstairs ones so I guess it's not as expensive as rewiring.
Do you know what caused the fire yet?

My fault - I forgot I had left a pan on the hob. I remembered on the way back from shops and ran all the way back - practically had a heart attack from the running and the fright. (I am in my fifties and terribly unfit).

I am usually so careful, but my memory is getting bad - combination of postmenopausal hormones and stress I suppose.

the firemen came round here in their fireengine and installed smoke alarms (with a 10 year batter) in every single room in my house, 2 in the hall, all for free

if you had lots of smoke alarms then the smoke wouldnt have to travel so for for the next one

also in your situation they still wouldnt have gione off as your kitchen alarm hadnt activated had it?