A fire which severely damaged an Oamaru house has prompted a warning for people to have their electric blankets checked before autumn.
The fire was caused by a faulty controller on an electric blanket, then spread quickly through the Aln St house, about 9pm on Waitangi Day.
A man in the house told the Oamaru Fire Service, which turned out two units and 15 firefighters, the blaze had started from an electric blanket, but in the short time he was away getting a fire extinguisher, it spread rapidly when windows blew out.
Oamaru Chief Fire Officer Steve Couper said an investigation into the cause of the fire ''gathered enough information'' from the house and its owner to ''reasonably assume'' it was started by the electric blanket.
The house owner had turned on the electric blanket and, about 10 minutes later, a smoke alarm went off.
When he went into the bedroom he saw flames coming from the side of the bed where the controller switch was.
It was obvious the wall plug it was plugged into had not caused the fire, leaving only the controller as faulty.
Mr Couper said the fire was a reminder for people to get their electric blankets checked annually before autumn by a qualified person.
''They may have been folded up, creased or have anything happen to them, including general wear and tear, since the last time they were used,'' he said.
Mr Couper had come close to having a similar experience.
Some years ago, Mr Couper had had a faulty electric blanket. He had turned it on and gone to bed when he noticed ''a bluey glow'' down the bed.
He had to climb out being careful not to touch the glowing area, switched off the blanket and then found a scorch mark.
