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!

Oh and by the way - you’re an absolute hero do you realise that!!!

Well done, I hope you feel more settled now.

I hope the dog haters on here read about your dog's role in getting them out. The bin raider dog was only trying to help by providing a distraction when you came back in!

You should be proud of yourself, I hope that I would have had your courage.

I often see stories in the local paper about people whose privately rented or council homes have been destroyed by fire and they turn out to have removed the smoke alarm batteries either to use elsewhere or because the alarm goes off every time they make toast. This might be a factor.

That is amazing you help them. Also, move because they were careless of themselves and their neighbors.

Not smoking in bed is like very well known.

@ListenDontJudge
Ha that's a good spin on it!
@CaptainMyCaptain
That's really sad, I've always considered them a non negotiable essential, we've all had the annoying beeping but it's there to save your life, if there hadn't have been smoke alarms in my neighbours place then I might well not be here now, and they definitely wouldn't be. I guess people think it will never happen to them.

I saw mobile neighbour today and the other one is still in hospital and quite poorly by all accounts.

I've also reported it to my landlord, and my housing officer will be back in touch with what if anything, they can do.
I just have to trust that the fire service and the hospital/ambulance will have their concerns taken seriously and something will be done.

I'm over the initial shock now, I think, I do keep replaying it in my mind, but like a poster said here, I'm making sure I'm taking it right through to it's conclusion that everyone got out. I honestly don't think I did anything else anyone wouldn't have done.
You do these courses at work and it becomes a bit samey, just another course to do, I've never needed it before, I hope I never do again, but I'm grateful for it.

Thanks for your kind words everyone, writing it down here has helped process it through.

well done you - cool head despite the fire