Dog saved as neighbour tackles house fire in Telford
A dog escaped unharmed when a neighbour tackled a house fire after hearing the smoke alarm going off.
Fire chiefs have cited the blaze in Telford as an example of why functioning smoke alarms are so important.
Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service was called just before 12.30pm on Thursday to a property in Shawbirch.
When crews arrived, the fire had already been put out by a neighbour who had heard the smoke alarm go off.
The blaze had started in the living room and firefighters wore breathing apparatus to ventilate the building before ensuring the area was safe.
Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service station manager Phil Davies said: “We would advise the public to never attempt to tackle a fire themselves and to always call the fire service straight away, however we do appreciate the actions of the neighbour who put out the blaze and prevented the fire from spreading further.
“This incident highlights the importance of having working smoke alarms and demonstrates how they can alert you to a fire at the earliest opportunity.
“There was also a dog in the home at the time of the incident who was thankfully uninjured due to the fact the fire was detected quickly.
“Smoke alarms should be on every level of your property and tested weekly.”
An investigation is under way to determine the cause of the fire.
For more information on keeping your home safe visit the Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service website.
