Heroes save fire victim

A FIREFIGHTER has praised neighbours who rescued an elderly woman from her blazing Suffolk home.The victim was led away from her semi-detached bungalow, in Oak Close, Great Finborough.

A FIREFIGHTER has praised neighbours who rescued an elderly woman from her blazing Suffolk home.

The victim was led away from her semi-detached bungalow, in Oak Close, Great Finborough..

Flames had broken out in the front room of the property and had threatened to spread next door.

But neighbours raised alarm and entered the bungalow to rescue the pensioner, who was suffering from smoke inhalation. She was later taken to hospital.

Assistant divisional officer Mark Steggall, a firefighter who attended the scene, said: “The neighbours have been extremely helpful to this elderly lady.

“They were even doing their bit to tidy up the house after the fire was out. From the point of the view of the fire service they were brilliant.

“It was the neighbours who alerted to us this incident. There was potential for the fire to spread but fortunately we managed to get to it in time.”

Mr Steggall said the cause of the blaze is unknown at present, although it is not thought to have been started deliberately. Up to half the house has been destroyed as a result of the fire.

Three crews, from Needham Market, Stowmarket and Elmswell, attended and brought the incident under control within 50 minutes.