Shropshire woman dragged unconscious from blaze by firefighters backs campaign against cuts
A Shropshirre woman who was dragged unconscious from a blazing house has backed calls to save a fire engine at risk of being being axed as part of cost-cutting measures.
Ellie Minter said she owed her life to firefighters who attended her home in Weston Rhyn, near Oswestry, to deal with the fire.
She has thrown her support behind a campaign to secure the future of one of two full-time firefighting appliances serving the Wrexham area, which could be taken out of service.
One of the crews sent to the scene when the fire broke out on November 27 was from Wrexham.
Mrs Minter was rescued from her home after a smouldering log resulted in flames spreading to curtains that caused a "flash" that blew out her patio doors.
During the ordeal she suffered the effects of smoke inhalation but was otherwise unhurt during the incident.
The 51-year-old bank worker said: "I have no sense of smell so wasn't aware of anything untoward. One minute I was upstairs going about my business, the next minute I was lying on the lawn being tended to by firefighters."
Mrs Minter's neighbours reported flames as high as the house, which was so badly damaged that it will be the summer before she can return home.
"They saved my life and I was told that the equipment used by the Wrexham crew to get me out was essential. If it wasn't for that second engine from Wrexham, I wouldn't be here now and that's why I'm supporting the campaign to save it.
"Someone else will need it next week or next month. You can't mess with people's lives."
Mrs Minter is currently staying with relatives as the house is due to be repaired.
Marc Jones, of Wrexham's Save our Services, said: "Our campaign to save the second whole-time fire engine in Wrexham along with 24 firefighters' jobs has always been about preventing death and serious injury.
"Ellie's story could have been so different had that second pump from Wrexham not been available. Cuts like this cost lives and the Fire Authority should think hard before it gets rid of frontline services."
Last month 500 people took part in a march through Wrexham town centre. to demand North Wales Fire and Rescue Authority keeps the fire engine.
Consultation on the proposal was coming to an end today and North Wales Fire and Rescue Authority will make a final decision in March. A paper petition from the group will be handed in to fire service bosses at the meeting.
So far 1,323 people have signed an online petition calling on them to change their minds at gopetition.com/petitions/dont-scrap-wrexham-fire-engine.html