Couple And Their Dogs Rescued From House Fire

15 July 2013, 06:44 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50

Firefighters have rescued a couple and their two dogs from a house fire in Portsmouth.

Crews were called to Walmere Road in Fratton after the fire started in the ground floor of their home.

At 2.37am a call was made by the two residents who had been alerted to the fire by a sounding smoke detector.

Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service's call handler Lisa Hepplestone, stayed on the phone giving fire survival advice to the residents until the fire appliances arrived at the property.  Lisa said:

"The couple's route of escape was blocked by the fire and so they were told to stay upstairs, in a room where they could shut the door. They were then told to block the bottom of the door to stop smoke getting into the room and to open all windows.

"As the smoke from the fire travelled upstairs, the couple were told to lie flat on the ground so that they did not breathe in too much smoke."

Three appliances from Southsea Fire Station attended the incident and rescued the couple, by ladder, from a first floor window. The two dogs were then found and rescued from the back garden.  

Crews used two breathing apparatus, one hose reel and positive pressure ventilation at this incident. The couple were left in the care of South Central Ambulance Service.

At this time, the cause of the fire is yet to be determined.