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!

A huge well done to you, they probably owe you their lives! Look after yourself, you might feel a bit weepy, so take care. Blimey, big treats to the dog!

You are a hero but this has understandably taken its toll on you as you process it. You need time to recover physically and mentally.

The neighbour does not come back. You could have all died.

Perfectly normal if you still feel wobbly today.

If they are allowed back they will obviously be getting a new mattress and all new mattresses have to have flame retardant treatment. It's possible the fire would not have spread to your flat but the smoke would have been a problem as that gets everywhere. Air your property well even if it is cold.

Flame retardent blankets and vaping rather than smoking could be the way to go and seek the advice of the fire brigade on whether additional smoke alarms could be beneficial for you. If your separate entrances share a common external door I'd certainly want an alarm in any shared hallway.

It is also worth thinking about your escape route if anything blocked your route to the main exit. Something like this escape ladder might give you extra piece of mind https://www.simplysafetygroup.co.uk/4-5m-fire-escape-ladder

I’m so impressed by you op, what a person to have around in a crisis! Take care of yourself and don’t expect too much of yourself and your reactions, if that makes sense. Don’t expect to feel normal about something so wildly abnormal anyway!
I would be absolutely fucking raging at your neighbours tho. Of all the irresponsible, dangerous things to do!

@WibbleyPie You are a wonderful neighbour. You and your dog have saved four lives and two homes - your neighbours', your own and your dog's.

Have a good rest. Monitor your breathing, throat and chest for smoke damage.
Can someone help come into your home and spring clean? Wash curtains, rugs, duvets, cushions, soft furnishing covers, and clean floors windows and insides of cupboards so you start to get rid of the smell of smoke?

You have done an incredible thing.

You and your dog are heroes. Do something nice today ❤️

You did brilliantly op, well done. It's only in an emergency we find out how we'd react, many would've been out the front door awaiting the fire services.

Why dont they have a ramp? Sorry if it's been mentioned but you shouldn't have to man handle someone down steps. You can't stop them smoking but definitely pursue the ramp situation also maybe a fire extinguisher in the communal hall.

Well done to you for stepping in and helping as it could have ended up a lot worse. oh yes and well done for your dog alerting you he deserves a treat!
obviously there are problems with them living alone and coping so hopefully due to fire brigade being involved the right agencies will be alerted so maybe help them.

This reads as you and your dog sat in bed with a whisky each! Lovely picture.

Thank god for doggo - and your quick actions. You must be in shock.

You are an absolute hero.
Of course you are in shock but thankfully between you, your dog and the fire crew have saved someone.
Amazing.
Take the next few hours slowly and easy if you can, while you recover from your shock.

You did brilliantly. Hope your dog is ok?
Keep talking about what happened, write as much as you want here and at home. It helps to process what happened and your feelings.
You saved a life today so be proud of that.

Well done @WibbleyPie (and OP’s dog, not the bin raiding one!)

As an aside do you have smoke detectors etc in the communal areas?

How would that be policed?

Well done OP, brilliant responses nice to know the training kicked in. Look after yourself, but also be proud of yourself you've done a very good thing.

You need more smoke alarms out in the hallway in front of their flat.

Do you own the flat or is there a landlord who needs to be involved?

The fire service will come and do a fire safety check on your place for free if you ask. They will make recommendations to make everyone safer. I am glad they are referring on to social services.

I used to work as social worker with elderly people, and ensuring the safety of neighbours, particularly in flats, was a major worry especially where early dementia was setting in.

Certainly does not sound like they are safe left to their own devices and also pose a safety risk to other people. I think I would insist social services were involved to ensure this could not happen again. If the alarm had not gone off, other people could have been trapped. It’s really worrying. I had a vulnerable elderly downstairs neighbour who often stopped putting money on the electric to buy alcohol instead and used candles for light. When they were moved into sheltered housing the side of their mattress nearest to the wall was coated in a thick layer of wax where they had been burning candles right next to the bed and it was dripping all over the mattress. With no electric their smoke alarm was useless. Social services had a real battle convincing them that they were at risk of causing a fire.

Really well done, OP. And what a great doggie you have. I hope your lungs are feeling okay this morning.

I hope the referral makes social services reassess their situation and how dangerous it really is ... and takes into consideration your safety as well. You did all the right things, but there was also a huge element of luck, as in lucky your dog alerted you this time. Smoke inhalation is deadly and it could have been a very different outcome.

My mouth was open and heart pounding just reading your opening post, WibbleyPie.

Thank goodness you were woken by your lovely dog and were quick thinking in such an awful emergency. If you, or nobody, had woken and/or had their wits about them, what might have happened does not bear thinking about.

I'm not surprised you are shaken by this. Look after yourself, and dog, well today. I hope your poor neighbour recovers quickly with no long lasting effects from the smoke (and does not smoke in bed again).

Good on you!

This is very true. I work in similar services and am surprised about how many people are encouraging you to expect them not to be back.

The situation sounds complicated so there's a chance this is the tipping point but also a chance this is the first time an issue has been highlighted

wow! Fillet steak for Fido! What a clever dog. Well done OP.

OP, I'm really pleased to see that the fire brigade have made a referral and expressed concern for your safety. You don't have to be an expert to see that your neighbours are high-risk for another incident. In your shoes that would prey on my mind.

I'd want to do what I could to ensure that you are at least able to get out of your flat safely and quickly in case of a repeat incident and that all measures are taken to ensure that if they do start another fire you'll be aware of it as soon as possible. First thing sounds like going out and buying fire extinguishers and a fire-blanket for them — though I'm guessing that given their disabilities it's impossible to rely on them using them properly...

You did a great job: I hope you can feel proud of yourself. They're lucky to have you for a neighbour. They might both be dead without you. But that doesn't remove the fact that they may well be a risk to your health and safety and that you're right to feel concerned and probably worried about it.

What a terrifying experience. What happened to the other person? Presumably they couldn't stay there overnight. I wouldn't worry about having hurt her. You had absolutely no choice but to do what you did. Thank goodness you were able to think clearly and use your training.

Well done, you. You should be incredibly proud of how you reacted tonight. You're a lifesaver!

I hope the adrenaline dissipated and you were able to sleep.

Good dog too! They deserve a treat for waking you.

Op you posted because you needed to off load and share what happened. I get it. Got the T-shirt.

Totally different circumstances, injury to my toddlers finger that needed an emergency operation. You'd expect he'd be screaming, except he was quiet, earily quiet.
The day after it I was going over and over it in my head, could I have done anything differently.