Two Sydney shopkeepers described the dramatic moment when they helped a panicked woman out of a burning house.
The couple were working on a house on William Street in Manly on Monday morning when they noticed the house next door was on fire.
They were alerted of the fire by a woman who lived there who screamed before running back to the fire.
“The woman next door was screaming at the door and my employee Blair jumped over the fence and ran after her to check if anyone else was inside,” said Bradley Turner.
“When they got to the room where the fire was, the flames were already on the ceiling and the girl was there in a panic.
“Blair kicked her out of the house, she was screaming, she couldn’t speak, she was just crying, she probably had a panic attack.”
Officials said the woman was treated by paramedics for smoke inhalation and transported from the scene in an ambulance.
The woman, in her 20s, was taken to Northern Beaches Hospital, an ambulance spokesperson said.
The first firefighters arrived at the scene just before 8 in the morning and immediately realized that the situation was serious.
“Along the way, the crews noticed a lot of smoke in the area and intensified their response,” said Adam Dewberry, NSW Fire and Rescue Manager.
“The fire was contained in the back of the house, although the facade was also damaged by smoke and heat.
“The fire was brought under control in about 40 minutes.”
Mr. Turner said his colleague, Blair Smith, 32, was shaken by the incident.
“He was a little panicked and worried that someone else was inside, but he calmed down. He’s pretty good with that stuff, ”said Mr. Turner.
Mr. Turner runs the Pure Deco decorative finishing business, where Mr. Smith works, and he had been working in the house next door for a month when the accident happened.
Six firefighters arrived on the scene and finished their work shortly before 11:00
Police did not believe the fire was suspicious.