Updated: March 15, 2010
Trio of Burnham-On-Sea residents hailed heroes after house blaze

Three Burnham-On-Sea residents have been hailed heroes after helping to save the life of an elderly neighbour trapped in a burning house on Sunday evening (March 14th).

Three fire crews from Burnham and Bridgwater rushed to St Mark's Road at 8.50pm, as pictured here, after a lady in an adjoining property dialled 999 to report that smoke was emerging from the roof of her elderly neighbour's home.

Before the fire crews arrived on the scene, two local residents bravely entered the burning building to bring the stricken pensioner to safety.

Carole Parfitt, who raised the alarm, told Burnham-On-Sea.com: "I was in bed watching a film on TV when I smelt smoke and went outside to check the house next door. I could hardly believe my eyes when I saw flames coming out of the roof. I called the fire birgade and then several passers-by came by, knocked down my fence to help the elderly lady from inside."

A fire spokesman told Burnham-On-Sea.com at the scene: "The crews confirmed smoke was issuing from the property, and that one elderly female had been removed from the property by neighbours. Crews set about extinguishing the fire using breathing apparatus and hose reel jets."

The elderly lady was taken to hospital for treatment and the two people who entered the building also spent several hours in A&E after suffering smoke inhalation.

Alistair Hendry, the owner of the property, told Burnham-On-Sea.com: "My tennant was inside the property and smelt smoke emerging from the loft hatch."

"She went outside and was shocked to see smoke emerging from the roof tiles. She immediately called the fire brigade. Her quick action certainly helped to save the life of the lady and prevented the whole building going up in smoke."

The property, a semi-detached house, was left heavily smoke logged and crews spent over an hour with breathing apparatus and ventilation fans ensuring the fire was fully extinguished.

The cause of the fire was believed to be unattended cooking.