Mystery fire heroes kept blaze at bay
MYSTERY heroes who alerted fire crews to a restaurant blaze arrived just in time to stop the flames spreading to nearby homes.
Firefighters in Oakham say the three men pushed a garden hose through the window of the Nuova Vita restaurant in High Street, called 999 and alerted people in the flats above when they came across the fire in the early hours of Friday.
Firefighters arrived at about 2.15am and have not been able to track down the three men.
Firefighter Mark Draper said: "We haven't been able to trace these lads since the incident but they did a sterling job in helping to keep the fire at bay.
"It was because of their quick actions that we got there just in time – any later and the flames would have spread to other properties."
Fire investigators sifted through the wreckage at the back of the building on Friday morning. They believe the fire was caused by faulty wiring in a tumble drier in the restaurant kitchen.
The building is owned by Marilyn Ciarlo, a cleaner at Oakham School, who lives in the flats above. She said: "There was smoke everywhere and flames coming out of the roof.
"I was in complete shock – it's the worst thing you can think of."
The restaurant is run by Teresa Abuin and her children, but has been closed since the fire because of the severe damage it caused.
Julie Ball, who lives at Flores House in High Street, was evacuated from her home during the fire.
She said: "We were told the fire had been burning for some considerable time before the alarm was raised and that the firefighters were lucky to have been able to stop it from spreading to adjoining businesses and living accommodation."
She said the fire demonstrated that the town does need a full-time fire station.
The fire authority is considering downgrading the station so it is manned only by retained crews some or all of the time.
* Do you know who the heroes are? Call the newsdesk on 01572 758899.
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Weather for Stamford
Saturday 11 February 2012
Today
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Temperature: -5 C to -1 C
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