Briton rescued from house fire
Lucky escape for sleeping resident
A BRITISH MAN was rescued from a fire at his home in Orihuela Costa by two Guardia Civil officers who have been praised for their bravery.
The provincial branch of the AUGC officers association congratulated their colleagues for their quick reaction and wished them and the resident a speedy recovery from the effects of the dense smoke.
The patrol, based in Pilar de la Horadada, were advised at 01.37 on Friday that smoke was coming from apartment block nine on Calle Samaniego, but without specifying which flat.
They entered the building with the fire extinguisher from their car and went up the stairs until they reached the affected home on the fourth floor.
The officers had to bang repeatedly on the door to wake up the only occupant, who admitted he had fallen asleep while cooking.
They managed to put out the flames with the extinguisher, preventing further damage to the property or injuries to any people.
The resident, identified as A.D.B, aged 41, refused medical attention despite the officers’ insistence as he was visibly affected by smoke inhalation.
The fire brigade did not have to do anything when they arrived as they confirmed that the blaze had been completely extinguished by the Guardia Civil.
San Fulgencio
Fire fighters had to evacuate four homes in San Fulgencio on Saturday due to an intense blaze at a fruit warehouse.
According to the fire brigade, it started at approximately 15.23 in the courtyard of the premises on Calle San Antón.
It seemed that a butane gas bottle had exploded and set fire to plastic crates, which produced a column of thick, black smoke that was visible for many miles around.
They sent nine fire fighters and four senior officers in a heavy pump truck and a rural pump truck from Orihuela and
Almoradí, who managed to put it out. Adjacent to the courtyard were three storerooms with several vehicles in which were affected by the blaze.
Costa Blanca News reader Arnold Lynas said he saw the smoke and ‘thought it was a tyre or fuel fire from the colour of the smoke’.
However, when he went to investigate he was kept away from the area by the emergency services.
Santa Pola
Also on Saturday, a fire in a car forced the roundabout at the entrance to Santa Pola del Este from the town centre to be closed
Vehicles parked nearby on Avenida del Catalanet also had to be abandoned in case the flames spread to them.
According to the local police, the heat caused the windows and tyres of the affected car to explode, the noise of which concerned many residents who came out to see what was going on.
Fire fighters came from Elche and put out the blaze, which completely incinerated the car and also affected part of the ravine and the bridge across it, but caused no other significant damage.