A MAN who went into a burning home in Watford to rescue an elderly woman in the early hours of Friday morning has been praised by a senior fire officer.

The man, who wishes to remain anonymous, was alerted by his wife who heard a smoke alarm shortly after 5am on Friday, May 2.

Knowing an elderly woman lived in the house, the man smashed a window to gain entry and found the woman at the top of the stairs in a confused state.

He led her to safety from the smoke-logged house before a fire crew from Garston arrived.

Sub officer of Green Watch at Garston Fire Station said the man's actions had undoubtedly saved the woman's life.

The fire, which was caused by a dressing gown which had fallen on a single-bar heater, was extinguished by firefighters.

May 2, 2003 13:00