Passer-by helps family to safety after fire breaks out
Blaze happened in the early hours
A QUICK-THINKING woman helped evacuate a family from their home after a fire tore through their garden.
Jodie Carnall spotted the blaze at a property on the junction of Sunnydale Road and Rydal Close, Hinckley, in the early hours of Friday morning.
The fire broke out in a shed and quickly spread to a nearby fence, gate and trees.
The 24-year-old said the flames were “inches away” from a gas meter and there could have been an explosion.
She said: “The fire was making all kinds of angry and fierce noises and it was spreading quickly.
“The flames were right next to the house, but I banged on the door as loud as I could to wake the family up.
“Two parents and two kids were in the house and I just had to get them out.
“If there was a gas leak, there could have been a massive explosion.
“If we weren’t driving by at the time it would have spread to the house and who knows what could’ve happened.”
A National Grid worker also asked the family to move their car to prevent the flames from spreading.
Firefighters were called at just after 1.30am.
A crew from Hinckley station used a hose reel and breathing apparatus to extinguish the blaze by 2am.
Nobody was injured, but a shed and fence were “severely damaged” by fire, a spokesman said.
The cause is believed to be accidental.
Jodie, who starred on ITV’s hit show Take Me Out in February, added: “The family were in a state of shock when I woke them up.
“They thanked me and so did the fire brigade.
“My colleague, who I live with, was ill and I was picking him up from work.
“As I was driving home David spotted the fire and shouted: ‘Wait, hang on a minute’ and told me to turn around.
“It could have been a lot worse if we were not there.”