Man alerted to house fire when feet started to burn (From Enfield Independent)

Man alerted to house fire in Fox Lane in Southgate when his feet started to burn

11:10am Friday 8th March 2013 in News By Hermione Wright

Three people had a lucky escape from a house fire after a man was woken when he felt his feet beginning to burn.

The house, in Fox Lane, Southgate, was not fitted with a smoke alarm and the sleeping man was only awoken by the pain as the fire took hold late on on Wednesday evening.

He escaped the property before calling the fire brigade just after 9.50pm to rescue the elderly couple sleeping inside.

Firefighters battled through the fire before dragging the man and woman to safety where they were treated for smoke inhalation.

Watch manager Sami Goldbrum, of Southgate fire station was at the scene. He said: “Crews worked very hard to get the man and the elderly woman out safely. The house was very smoky and they did very well in challenging conditions."

He advised householders to fit smoke detectors that would alert them to fires far sooner, adding: "Smoke alarms will alert you to a fire very quickly, giving you time to escape and call the brigade. They take only moments to fit and they could save your life.”

The fire was brought under control at 22.45pm. Its cause is under investigation.