Kitchen fire – three people rescued

Station Road, Loudwater

One appliance and crew from Beaconsfield, two from High Wycombe and an officer attended. Firefighters used a main jet, a hose reel and two sets of breathing apparatus and rescued a woman and two girls through a first-floor window. They were left in the care of South Central Ambulance Service. Firefighters also rescued two cats and gave them oxygen.

Station Commander Andrew Holtzhausen from Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service said: "On attendance the Beaconsfield crew saw the distressed young family on the first floor and rapidly effected a snatch rescue and safely extricated a two-year-old girl, a five-year-old girl and their mother.

"The family were safe but understandably shaken by the incident. A neighbour invited them into their house to assist in calming the children down because they were fearing for their pets.

"The property was heavily smoke-logged due to all the doors been open, and crews discovered a small kitchen fire, which they rapidly extinguished. The crews then found two unresponsive kittens in the kitchen and started resuscitating them outside with oxygen.

"They successfully brought both kittens round to the huge delight of onlookers and the two children alike. A chorus of applause arose as crews handed the kittens to the family.

"I would like to highlight good practice and professionalism of all attending crews, the decisive incident command choices and the manner in which the crews carried themselves throughout the incident."

Firefighters will be visiting the area today to reassure local residents and provide fire safety advice.