Neighbours rescue OAPs from blaze

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A couple in their eighties were rescued by their neighbours after a fire broke out in the bedroom of their home in north Wales.

The elderly man suffered burns to his hands and both he and his wife needed oxygen therapy after the blaze at Glan Conwy at around 23.35 BST on Saturday.

Four neighbours who helped were treated for smoke inhalation at the scene.

While praising the neighbours' intervention, fire chiefs said they should have waited for crews to arrive.

Crews from Conwy and Llandudno tackled the blaze using hose reel jets and breathing apparatus.

Early warning signal

Kevin Brain, fire safety enforcement officer, said "Although the neighbours should be commended for their assistance in helping the couple from the property, we would always advise everyone to wait for the arrival of the fire and rescue service and not attempt to enter buildings on fire."

Mr Brain said there was no smoke alarm fitted at the property in Pen y Gaer which would have given the couple an early warning signal.

He said the couple were "extremely lucky" to have escaped with only relatively minor injuries.

"It also seems likely that the cause of the fire was connected to carelessly discarded smoking materials.

"It is extremely important for smokers to ensure cigarettes are extinguished properly in a suitable ashtray and that the ashtrays are emptied every night into a non flammable container outside the building."