A bit shocked by what has happened tonight

[WibbleyPie]

I live in a flat on the first floor, there's a couple who lives in the flat below. No one above me. Large converted house. Separate entrances.

Was woken around midnight by my dog being unsettled and woofing, not full on barking, and as I started to wake up I could hear downstairs smoke alarm going off.
I went down and their door was open, smell of smoke and smoke visible coming out of the door, not billowing but enough to know there's a small fire and make me cough a bit. Neighbours are quite vulnerable and one bed bound.

Wasn't sure where the fire was or what it was, main aim was to help get neighbours out. Mobile neighbour not in best of health themselves and couldn't get bed bound neighbour off the bed. Was on phone to 999 at the same time, as neighbour hadn't called them. Went to help bed bound neighbour into wheelchair and realised it was the bed that was smouldering next to them, big hole burned through mattress and could see embers/smouldering, obviously a fair amount of smoke.
Other neighbour had poured water on it evidently and put it out to some degree. We got her out and into the wheelchair and as far as we could away from the fire, couldn't get outside because of steps and wheelchair. But we were by the door and I had a plan to use the bedding again to drag neighbour out of the building if I needed to.

I used to work in social care, and thank God for the fire training I've had because it kicked in tonight and I did what I'd been trained to do, back of the hand door test, used the duvet to move the neighbour off the bed and would have used it again to get them out if necessary. Closed doors behind us etc.

Fire service were very quick responding, considering they're retained and not at the station. They were fantastic, got wheelchair neighbour straight out, put bed out properly and removed everything. I'm so grateful to them, amazing people. Comforted us.

Bed bound neighbour gone to hospital, unhurt but I think have inhaled a fair amount of smoke.

I'm a bit shocked by it all, it was frightening enough for me, and I can move, my neighbour must have been terrified - but - they'd been left with cigarettes and lighter and been smoking in bed.

I think I'm in a bit of shock tbh. Live alone and feel really unsettled and not sure what to do with myself now. Hopefully that'll wear off.

Not sure really why I'm posting. Maybe I just needed to share what's happened tonight. It was a minor fire that was thankfully put out before it got going but it could have been so different, it was seconds away from going up completely I think, judging by the damage to the mattress.

Anyway, big shout out to our fabulous fire service!

You did amazingly well. I think the advice could have been to call the fire brigade not go in yourself but in this case thank god you did

I once had to call the fire brigade on a flat below because the alarm was going off and I could smell smoked but I banged on the door for ages and nobody answered (and it was locked). When they arrived and broke down the door the tenant was drunk and had put sausages in the grill then passed out on the bed and even the alarm hadn't woken her. She had to be treated for smoke inhalation.

Every other flat was away and I had been due to go away for the weekend at 5am that morning - so I often think about what would have happened if I hadn't been there

Ps: Have a BIG talk with your neighbours about never smoking in bed. Remind them that by doing so they put your life at risk too.

GOOD DOG.

Well done!
Thank goodness the dog woke you. Could have been very different

The thought of immobile and bedbound people smoking in bed is horrifying

I would feel uneasy

Oh and very well done Wibbleypie as well!!!

@WibbleyPie Well done to you and your wonderful dog!

Holy shitballs Batman, Smoking in bed?

What was this person thinking of?

The toxic smoke could have killed you all.

Dogs can very good alarms as to things going wrong in our environments, and that unsettled gruff 'woofing' is always to be further looked into, especially if a dog is usually quiet.

Hopefully the smoker will now be moved to a care home and given nicotine gum {or whatever they give now} to kick the habit.

Yes, the feeling the door with the back of the hand is a good tip - otherwise an inrush of oxygen from opening the door can create a fireball.

Terrifying.

Well done - I'm stunned that a bed bound person is able to have cigarettes and matches {Or a lighter} to smoke in bed.

So dangerous.

There used to be a creepy as hell book of kids ''mysteries'' that showed 'spontaneous human combustion' in an older fatter person that showed just a leg where they reckon the person had been smoking and been unable extinguish themselves by rolling on the floor.

It has creeped out generations of children, but smoking is the likely cause.

People don't just combust without just cause.

You undoubtedly saved her life by raising the alarm, alongside the Fire Brigade.

My dog quickly runs and stand by the front door when the smoke alarm goes off as if it was a fire drill. It's very funny but also very sensible and reassuring that she wouldn't just hide if there was a real fire like some animals (and children, sadly) do.

When you've been involved in an emergency you will keep replaying it in your mind for a few days. Make sure your mind replays what happened, right to the end, so that you get the happy conclusion that all was well. It's easy to get stuck on a "what if I hadn't got there in time?" thought loop and then your imagination takes you to bad places that won't help you to process the feelings of fear you had.
Your dog is a lifesaver and so are you. Well done.

whoa OP this could have been so luch worse without your intervention. You‘ve probably saved their lives last night (and your own too). That is a big thing so I’m not surprised you’re still feeling a bit shocked.

Look after yourself today if you can, plenty of rest, cups of tea, something nice to eat. You deserve. Yes, the fire brigade are heroes but so are you ❤️

I work for Adult Social Services.

Smoking in bed is sadly VERY common.

Lots of bed bound people figure they don't have many joys left in life.

We can educate etc, and the fire service will supply fire retardant blankets free of charge, and smoke alarms can be connected to falls pendent systems to automatically call for help. But ultimately, if someone has capacity, there's not much we can do.

That sounds awful. No wonder you're shook up xxx

gosh that sounds horrific. Seriously, well done, sounds like you were amazing

Bloody hell. Get out for a long refreshing walk today and get some smoke alarms installed.

Very interesting.

I do think in shared accommodation it should be forbidden, when the risks are so well known.

and I see you’re worried you might have hurt your neighbour when you saved her but even if that is the case, you couldn’t have not moved her. There’s nothing you could have done differently

God love, well done.

Please go to the doctor and get your breathing etc checked out.

I hope you're feeling more yourself this morning!

That could have been nasty.

Would you be able to speak to social services about this? Quite apart from your own wellbeing, your entire building could have gone.

Well done on saving your neighbours and ultimately your home.
I've never lived in a flat, but one thing that occurred to me reading your post was whether fire/smoke alarms are or should be linked between flats. If you didn't have a dog, or it hadn't barked, at what stage would you have been alerted to the fire?

DNans elderly NDN of 40 years caused a fire in his flat by smoking in bed and sadly lost his life and destryed his neighbours flat too. The firecrew said smoking in bed was a common cause of fires.

Is DDog OK?
It might be worth ringing the vet for advice.

Smoking is incredibly addictive and notoriously hard to stop. Just because someone becomes bed bound doesn’t mean the addiction will just go away. This is a situation where vapes might be a good solution.

You and your dog did an amazing job!

You’re a genuine hero OP and so is your dog.
When the time is right you need a serious talk with your neighbours about only smoking in a safe place preferably outside but certainly away from soft furniture and flammables. and never alone in a room.
Thank goodness for your dog who will warn you of any danger in future.

Poor you OP, and your poor neighbours too.

On the plus side, you appear to be living with Lassie!

Very brave of you, what a selfless person you are!!