FIREFIGHTERS have issued a stark warning after a house fire in Poole was sparked by nothing more than sunlight and a household mirror.

Crews were called to the property on December 27 after a fire broke out when sunlight reflected off a magnifying mirror, focusing the rays onto nearby furnishings and setting a curtain and blind alight.

The incident highlights how quickly an ordinary object can turn dangerous under the right conditions.

The occupants were alerted by the smell of smoke and were able to raise the alarm and evacuate safely before the fire spread further.

Firefighters praised their quick reaction, which helped prevent serious damage or injury.

Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service says it has attended a number of similar fires in recent years, all caused by sunlight reflecting off mirrors or glass ornaments.

Curved glass objects can act like a lens, concentrating sunlight in the same way a magnifying glass can be used to start a fire.

When the concentrated rays are directed onto flammable materials such as curtains, blinds or soft furnishings, ignition can occur surprisingly quickly.

While the risk depends on the angle and strength of the sun, fire crews warn that any curved mirror or glass ornament left near a window or on a windowsill can pose a serious fire hazard.

Firefighters are urging people to check their homes and ensure mirrors, magnifying mirrors and glass ornaments are kept well away from direct sunlight.

Further safety advice is available from Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service at www.dwfire.org.uk/mirrors-and-glass-ornaments/.

The incident serves as a sobering reminder that fires don’t always start with naked flames – sometimes, all it takes is sunshine and a mirror.