PR 275

For Immediate Release

25 October 2006

For Great Yarmouth Borough Council Housing Caretaker David Matthews Monday morning back to work was far from usual – as he detected a fire in one of the flats he cares for and helped the family to escape.

As David started work at Burleigh Close, at 7am on October 23, he could smell acrid smoke. He looked up at the block of flats on Great Yarmouth’s Middlegate Estate and saw smoke pouring from a first-floor window.

He enlisted the help of a passer-by to alert the family while he called the fire brigade. The man who went up to the flat said a young boy had answered the door. David’s first fear was that the youngster would open the door of the bathroom where the blaze was burning fiercely.

He entered the flat encouraged the youngster to leave and then escorted the family to safety.

“I had fire-safety training earlier his year and one of the things they impressed upon us was to not to open the door of the room where the fire was, but to keep the blaze and smoke contained,” said David.

“My first thought when I was told that a youngster had answered the front door was that he would try to see what was happening, and open the bathroom door.

“But I managed to get to him before he did. I could hear the flames burning behind the door. Just as I got the family and their dogs out, the fire brigade arrived and they did an excellent job of putting out the fire.

“My next job was to go and rouse the other neighbours and get them to leave.”

“David acted very coolly,” said Housing Environmental Services Manager Justin Gibbs. “We are very proud of him. He remembered his training and acted very professionally.

“He is so down-to-earth, he can’t understand why anyone thinks his actions were brave.”

For further information contact Housing Environmental Services Manager Justin Gibbs on 01493 846211.

Issued by:
Liz Dann
Press Officer
Great Yarmouth Borough Council
01493 846513