Newton Aycliffe postman discovered kitchen ablaze

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/4 ... _disaster/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Hero Steve had been delivering insurance documents.

A QUICK-THINKING postman raised the alarm when a pensioner’s cooker caught fire – as he delivered her home insurance renewal.

Sarah Wilson had just left her house in Greathead Crescent, Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, to visit the town centre.

While Mrs Wilson, 74, shopped, a fire started, setting off her alarm.

Fortunately, the noise caught the attention of her postman, Steve O’Conner.

Mr O’Conner, 37, a postman of five years from Hambleton Court, Newton Aycliffe, said: “When I got up to the house to put the letters through the door, I could hear a beeping sound. I did not know what it was, so I decided to investigate.

“When I went round the back, I could see the kitchen was full of smoke, but I did not know if anyone was inside, so I phoned the fire brigade and waited so I could direct them to the house.

“Alarms go off in houses all the time, but when it’s a smoke alarm, it is different and I just did what anyone would have done.”

When Mrs Wilson returned, fire crews had broken down her front door to get in, but apart from that there was little damage.

She said: “It is just lucky I got some post that day. I do not get a lot; it was from my insurance company thanking me for renewing the policy. If he had not have been passing, I do not know what would have happened.

“The firemen did not have to use the hoses, so there was only smoke damage, but it could have been a lot worse.”

The fire brigade and Mr O’Conner’s employers have both praised his actions.

Firefighter Dave Michelson said: “We would like to thank Mr O’Conner for being so diligent.

It just goes to show that fire alarms not only save lives, but they can save property.”