“Caring neighbour” helps avoid house fire

Wednesday 31 July 2019

A local home was saved from going up in flames thanks to the quick thinking of a “caring neighbour”, who spotted a rapidly spreading blaze in a garden next door.

Firefighters tackled the blaze, which involved an outdoor gas cylinder around midday yesterday.

In a series of photos posted to Facebook, two firefighters can be seen attempting to put a stop to the fire, which sent plumes of thick black smoke into the air, using breathing apparatus. 

Some garden furniture perished in the fire, while decking and a nearby fence were also badly charred. 

But the Fire and Rescue Service said that things easily could have been much worse.

“The fire very nearly spread into the property and had it not been for the swift actions of a caring neighbour the damage would have been much more severe,” they said. 

Neighbour Mark Dawkins did not take full credit, however, passing on praise to "some guys from Telecoms", who also spotted signs of the fire from across the road.

Other commenters lauded the efforts of the firefighters, with one saying: “Well done Fire Service, gas cylinders are tricky items to deal with.”

Pictured top: Firefighters tackling yesterday's blaze. (JFRS/Facebook)