Woman and pets escape fire on boat

A WOMAN and her two dogs managed to escape unharmed after a narrowboat caught fire at a marina.

The boat was moored on the River Soar at Barrow upon Soar, near Loughborough, when the incident happened on Tuesday last week (October 19).

Crews from Birstall and Loughborough stations were joined by the technical rescue team from Leicester’s Southern fire station at the scene, off Sileby Road.

The alarm was raised shortly before 3pm.

A spokeswoman for Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service said it was first feared that two dogs were trapped inside the boat.

“We were called to narrowboat fire at The Marina, off Sileby Road, in Barrow upon Soar, at 2.55pm,” she said.

“It was made by the owner of the boat, who was worried that her two dogs were still inside.

“On arrival, however, crews found the woman and her pets were safely away from the fire and all persons were accounted for.”

Crews used breathing gear and a single-hose jet to tackle the blaze.

“No-one was hurt in the incident,” said the fire service spokeswoman.

“An investigation was carried out and it was found that the cause was accidental, due to items sitting too close to a log fire.”

The fire left the interior of the narrowboat badly damaged.