Cornwall Fire & Rescue Service Newsdesk

Ruby Terrace, Porkellis at 16/01/2003 09:16

One crew from Helston and one from Falmouth attended a house fire in Porkellis yesterday morning. Initial reports suggested that there were persons trapped. On attendance it was found that the occupiers had been out, and had returned to find a fire in the ground floor lounge. The occupiers, with the assistance of neighbours, then entered the property in an attempt to rescue the families 2 pet dogs, which were in the lounge. The consequences of this could have being fatal, and it should be stressed that under no circumstances should anybody re-enter a building when they discover a fire. A fire in a closed room can build up a large quantity of toxic and highly flammable fumes, which can ignite with explosive force when air is let into the room by an un-suspecting person opening a door.
It is known that the fire started in the lounge furniture, but the exact cause was inconclusive. The property was fitted with a smoke detector which went off.
The owner of the property was treated for smoke inhalation and a cat was resusitated by firefighters using oxygen. Unfortunately the two dogs could not be revived and died at the scene.