Dog owner burned trying to save pet

11:53am Thursday 20th March 2008

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A DOG owner was burned trying to rescue her dog from a fire in a flat in Plumstead.

Firefighters rescued the dog from an eighth-floor flat in the River Heights block in Glyndon Way at 7.17pm yesterday.

The woman in her mid-40s was given first aid and later taken to hospital suffering from minor burns on her hands and smoke inhalation.

The woman had gone out to the shop and when she got home the flat was on fire.

She tried to get back inside to rescue her Staffordshire bull terrier but was beaten back by the flames and smoke.

The alarm was raised by a group of teenagers in the street below who spotted flames and smoke coming from the window on the eighth floor.

Crews from Plumstead and Erith were able to stop the fire doing serious damage to the flat but there was smoke damage particularly in the living room.

A spokesman for London Fire Brigade said the woman did not have a smoke alarm.

London Fire Brigade will fit smoke alarms for free as part of a home safety check.

To request a free smoke alarm and a fire safety check call 0800 284428.