MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS (UK) 17 December 13 Couple flee house after tortoise starts fire (Alex Scapens)

A pet owner rescued his pet tortoise after its tank caught fire.

The 60-year-old grabbed the reptile from an upstairs bedroom at his home on Gypsy Walk, Offerton, on Monday (December 16) just after 7pm.

It is believed the fire started when another tortoise in the tank chewed through an electric cable from a heat mat and died after electrocuting itself.

When he discovered the fire the owner grabbed the other tortoise. He then escaped the house with his wife, 66.

He shut the bedroom door on the way out to prevent the fire spreading and was treated for smoke inhalation at the scene.

Firefighters from King Street and Offerton stations found the couple outside when they arrived. They used two breathing apparatus and a hose reel to extinguish the blaze, which was limited to the tank.

Crew manager Stuart Hall, from Offerton station, said: "The heat mat in the reptile tank caught fire but because the man shut the door to the back bedroom the damage was limited.

"He took the tortoise outside with him and put it in the bath afterwards as we removed the tank."

Also last night, a man was treated for burns to his hand after he tackled a chip pan fire at his home in Brinnington.

The 39-year-old declined hospital treatment after the blaze at his house on Keston Crescent at 10pm.

Firefighters from Whitehill and King Street stations were called but the man had already extinguished the flames.

Paramedics also treated him for smoke inhalation but damage was limited to the chip pan.

Firefighter Phil Pennington said: "The first important thing with a chip pan fire is to turn off the heat source if possible. If you use a damp tea towel(to extinguish the flames it needs to be big so it can be wrapped around the hands."
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