ESSEX fire crews have today praised the quick thinking of a four year old girl. Firefighters from Brentwood rescued a 49-year-old man from his smoke logged flat yesterday after his smoke alarm was heard by the small child in a neighbouring flat.

ESSEX fire crews have today praised the quick thinking of a four year old girl.

Firefighters from Brentwood rescued a 49-year-old man from his smoke logged flat yesterday after his smoke alarm was heard by the small child in a neighbouring flat.

Brentwood firefighters broke down the door of the flat and lead the man, who was suffering the effects of smoke inhalation, to safety.

Leading firefighter Mark Diggery said: “If it hadn't been for the four year-old neighbour this could have been a tragic incident.

“She is a very brave and clever little girl and she knew exactly what to do when she heard the smoke alarm going off.

“The girl was woken up by the alarm and immediately got her mum and dad who called us in, then throughout the whole time we were there we were impressed with how brave and level headed she was. There was a lot going on with crews in her block and breaking a door down but nothing scared her at all.

“This neighbour owes that girl a great debt, at just four years-old she knew exactly what to do.”

The man had left a pan on the stove and was asleep on his sofa unable to hear the alarm or knocks at the door or window, which crews reached using a ladder.

Crews wore two sets of breathing apparatus and quickly extinguished the small fire on the cooker with one hose reel.