A TRAUMATISED 12-year-old girl from Calne was in the shower when it caught fire.

Lacie Browne was in the Titron Safeguard+ shower while her mum Roz was shopping in Sainsbury’s for school supplies on the morning of September 7 when it caught fire.

“My daughter had gone to have her morning shower and I had gone to Sainsbury’s as soon as it had opened because she needed some stuff for school”, Ms Browne, 51, who lives in a GreenSquare property on Page Close, said: “It was about 7.06am when my phone rang and it was my daughter screaming down the phone, I couldn’t understand what she was saying. She told me smoke was coming out of the shower so I told her to get our of the house so she ran outside with just her towerl on. I rang 999 and they said someone was on their way. Two fire engines arrived and put the fire out.

one of the firefighters said this is the second fire in a GreenSquare property with the same shower.

“We have lost everything in our bathroom but luckily Lacie shut the bathroom door.

“She has been in a bit of a state since it happened, she won’t go upstairs on her own and is very clingy.She had finished her shower and pressed the buttons and it was almost like it had exploded The casing of the shower came off and that is when the flames flicked out.”

Carly-Anne Gardener from Larkham Rise, Chippenham, was in the shower, also a Titron Safeguard+, when it caught fire on August 13.

Both women received letters from Titron on behalf of GreenSquare last week for a safety inspection reminder due to instances where the Titron Safequard+ can overheat, degrade or melt - after their showers had caught fire.

Ms Browne said: “I am concerned about this happening to someone else.

“I got a letter from Triton, it said safety inspection but I didn’t know what they were talking about. I am really cross, I thought GreenSquare would do something.

Miss Gardener added: “The fire could have been prevented as I received a safety inspection letter from Triton which is five weeks too late. I rang them and they said my housing association knew about the problem.

“My life and my children’s life was in danger. If it wasn’t for me knowing what to do and having fire marshal training, my house could have burnt down.”

Andrew Smith, operations director at GreenSquare, said:"When we were made aware of a potential safety issue with some Triton Safeguard+ shower units, we supplied details of the homes that had these showers to the manufacturer so that they could arrange to check the units.

"The safety notice Triton issued stated that the problem would only occur 'in very rare circumstances' and 'in a very small number of cases'.

"However, following two recent fires in properties we manage, both caused by a fault with this model of shower, we believe the issue is more serious than had been suggested.As a result We have written to all customers we know have this shower to ask that they make contact with Triton urgently to arrange a safety inspection. We have advised customers not to use their shower until it has been inspected.

"We have also been in direct contact with Triton's management to express our concern and have updated the Fire Service about the action we're taking.

"We were all horrified to hear about the experiences of those who've had showers catch fire and realise how frightening this must have been.

"Our tradespeople have completed works at the two properties where fires occurred to make safe the electrics and redecorate before scheduling the installation of new shower units.

"We are now focused on ensuring that the Triton safety checks are carried out in all relevant cases to avoid any similar incidents in future."

A statement provided by Triton on its website said: "It has come to our attention that under very rare circumstances and in a very small number of cases, a part of the electronic circuit board of the Safeguard+ shower may overheat, degrade and, if the shower is left running for prolonged periods, may ultimately lead the unit casing to melt.

"Only this model of Safeguard+ is affected:Affected units start with the product code CSGP0 and have a date code stamp between 05/14 (May 2014) to 12/16 (December 2016). This date code is on the product rating label located on the underside of the product. [see image below]Safeguard+ electric shower label

"If you believe you have a Safeguard+ affected please contact our Service team on free phone 0800 0154145."