Two flee house as fire starts in boiler

Two people had to flee their home today after a fire broke out in the basement.

The pair escaped unhurt after the blaze started at the house in Market Drayton shortly before 5am.

The fire at the house in St Mary's Street is believed to have been caused by a faulty boiler. The occupiers, who did not wish to be named, raised the alarm after seeing smoke billowing up the stairs.

Firefighters from Market Drayton and Hodnet attended along with the incident commander from Shrewsbury.

Roger Smith, watch manager at Market Drayton, said: "The fire was in the basement and is believed to have involved a gas boiler.

"Both the occupiers were in the house at the time but managed to escape down the stairs and through the back door, and their dog, he was alright."

He added: "We immediately deployed two men in breathing apparatus, one hose reel jet and one main jet to fight the fire.

"There were two apparatus here, one from Market Drayton and one from Hodnet and the incident commander from Shrewsbury."

He said: "The fire investigator is here and has carried out an investigation. It looks very much like a fault in the boiler."

Mr Smith said the fire was dealt with within 30 minutes. He added: "The gent was getting up to go to work and was running himself a bath when he heard banging and saw smoke issuing up the stairs."