A doting dog owner has praised her pet pooch after its barks saved her life when her flat caught fire.
Jordan Kent, 26, said she didn’t know “what would have happened” if her Jack Russell Terrier Maddy hadn’t alerted her that a blaze had broken out in her bedroom.
The company accounts manager had lit some candles on a bedside table during an evening and was running a bath when six-year-old Maddy began yapping.
She decided to investigate as her pup’s bark sounded different from normal, thinking she may have left her front door open after they completed their evening walk.
But Maddy was barking at her bedroom door, and when Jordan peeped inside, she was met by a wave of smoke and flames that had quickly filled the room.
She then phoned the fire services, who arrived at her rented home in Bensham, Gateshead, at 8.20 pm – just four minutes later – before extinguishing the blaze.
And Jordan said she wouldn’t have noticed the inferno, which was caused by her dressing gown igniting on the candles, without Maddy’s barks as her fire alarm was not working.
She said: “When I heard Maddy barking, it was so odd, it wasn’t her regular bark as if she was playing, and it was as if she was scared.
“She was in the hallway just barking at the door but I couldn’t see what was on the other side so I just opened the door slightly and saw flames and smoke and closed it.
“Thank god for Maddy, my smoke alarm hadn’t gone off – I didn’t even know she knew what fire was because she’s never even been around a campfire or anything like that.
“As soon as I was off the phone after calling 999, I could hear the sirens the crews were there so quickly to help me.
Jordan said Maddy had been getting extra titbits for her quick thinking after she helped save them both from the blaze on January 5 this year.
She added: “Maddy has definitely been getting extra treats, if it wasn’t for her I don’t know what would have happened, I’m so glad we got out and the firefighters were there so quickly.”
Watch Manager Graeme Jackson, from Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service, said it was lucky that Maddy made Jordan aware of the impending danger.
He said: “Thankfully the fire was contained to the bedroom because Jordan closed the door.
“But fires can spread very quickly and cause significant damage in just a matter of minutes, luckily Jordan heard Maddy’s barking and got out safely.
“We would always encourage you to check your smoke alarms and if they aren’t working to get in touch.
“Never cover your smoke alarms as they are the first line of defence against fire and can save your life – not everyone has Maddy to alert them.”
Jordan and Maddy are now moving out of that flat after the fire as the damage sustained was too much for them to live there safely.
