A NEIGHBOUR has been hailed a hero by firefighters for rescuing a young woman and two children from a smoke-filled house.
The man, from Shirland Street, Chesterfield, was returning home in the early hours when he spotted smoke billowing from the house next door.
Without a thought for his own safety he entered the terrace house and helped the woman and two children to
safety from upstairs.
The 21-year-old, a little boy aged four, and a girl aged two, had been unaware of the blaze raging downstairs.
When firefighters arrived moments later a search of the property revealed the rescued woman's sister slumped on the kitchen floor near a chip pan which had been left on the hob.
Crew manager Silvino Francisco, from Staveley fire station, said the man was a life saver.
"Without a thought for his safety he entered the house and went upstairs to raise the alarm, leading a woman and two children to safety," said the firefighter.
"Without doubt we could easily have been looking at four fatalities because the smoke alarm in the property did not go off - it was wired to the electrics and must have been faulty.
"Luckily when he saw the smoke and decided to go into the house he found a door had been left open so he was able to raise the alarm quickly.
"The woman and children he rescued were asleep and had no idea what was happening until that point.
"We commend this man for his brave actions."
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