The hero saves a man from burning his house after seeing smoke coming from the window

A quick-thinking carpenter has been hailed a hero after his quick actions helped save an elderly resident from a house fire caused by a faulty tumble dryer. Josh Walton, 31, was on his way to work in the early hours of Thursday morning, May 16, when he encountered a disturbing scene in Whitsoncross Lane, Plymouth.

He saw smoke coming from a property and heard a woman frantically calling out for a man trapped inside. Without hesitation, Josh tried to enter the smoke-filled house to reach the man upstairs, but was pushed back by the intensity of the smoke.

Thinking on his feet, he asked a neighbor for a ladder and managed to open an upstairs window, giving the trapped man the air he needed, PlymouthLive reports.

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Firefighters from Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue arrived at the scene shortly after. They praised Josh’s brave efforts, saying his intervention “saved the man’s life” and sped up their ability to ventilate the building.

Recounting the incident, Josh said: “I was on my way to work at around 6.30am and I saw a woman in the street on Whitsoncross Lane shouting at 90-year-old Arthur who had broken some glass to try and do to breathe.

“I jumped out of the van, kicked in the door to try and get to him, but the smoke was way too thick and I couldn’t see my way to the stairs. Then I had a neighbor find a ladder and we arrived. to the window he was at, I broke more of the glass so he could get some air, then I ran to my van to get a hacksaw and a battery and opened the window to try and get him.

“He was talking as we cut the window but then passed out just as the firemen arrived. They rushed to the upstairs room where he was and pulled him out. Firefighters said what we did saved the man’s life and helped them get in faster to clear the smoke. I just wish more people would check their fire alarms because the smoke was overwhelming when we got there.

Fire crews confirmed this morning that they attended the scene at around 6.25am and used breathing apparatus, drum jets, thermal cameras and a safety jet to extinguish the flames. Firefighters confirmed one person was rescued from the property before being taken to hospital.

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said: “We were called to Whitsoncross Lane in Tamerton Foliot, near Plymouth at 6.25am today where a fire had started in a tumble dryer on the ground floor of a domestic property, causing a large amount of smoke. .

“Three crews from Camels Head and Crownhill fire stations used breathing apparatus, two drum jets, thermal cameras and a safety jet to extinguish the fire. One occupant was rescued from the property by crews and taken to hospital by ambulance. A The positive pressure ventilation fan was then used to help clear the property of smoke”.

And following the incident, a post was shared on the Facebook page of the Tamerton Foliot community, apparently written by one of the fire crews that intervened on the scene.

The message read: “Following the incident this morning, a big shout out to Josh for his quick thinking in cutting the window. I went with my partner the first time and this allowed a lot of smoke to vent from the property. and allows for faster search and rescue in finding (the man) and removing him from the property, his actions likely saved the man’s life.”

From a safety perspective, it warned: “In terms of home safety, the property involved did not have a working smoke alarm so everyone viewing this post please ensure they have smoke alarms in place , that they are in working order and tested regularly.”

He also called for community awareness: “Please check on vulnerable neighbors and family members. Below is a link to the fire safety page on the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue website”.

A statement on the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service website says: “A working smoke alarm will greatly reduce the risk of injury or death from fire. Between 2013 and 2017, two-thirds of fire deaths in the South West occurred where there was no working smoke alarm.”

He further emphasized the importance of such devices: “A smoke alarm is the easiest way to alert you to the first signs of fire, giving you precious time to escape. They are cheap, easy to get hold of and easy to install.”

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