'Firefighters banging on doors saved our lives,' say neighbours in aftermath of major house fire
Families in dressing gowns and pyjamas waited in bus stops in Fox Hill this morning after evacuating their homes after a major blaze spread along their street.
Crews from at least eight fire engines along with specialist vehicles fought to contain the blaze on Grimsell Crescent, Fox Hill, today, which reportedly started as a grass fire just off Fox Hill Road at around 4am (July 23).
The fire spread to nearby houses and caused the roof of one of the homes to collapse, and damaged others.
“[Firefighters] banged on the door and we ran out with the kids as quickly as we could,” recalled Jim Stevens, who had no choice but to wait outside the cordon at 8am today.
“We’re just waiting to see how we’re affected.”
South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue responded from as early as 4am, while dozens of police also supported by placing cordons around the block.
A video from around 4.30am today showed a police officer armed with a battering ram at the scene.
Footage shows how the sky was lit up in orange by the fire, which fully engulfed one of the terraced houses.
This morning, one family waiting at a bus stop had pulled their rabbit hutch out, and stood with it as they waited to find out when they could return home.
Brother and sister Vanessa and George Oji said they called emergency services around 4am.
Another man, Jim, said the siblings had “saved his life”.
“It spread really quickly,” he said. “We were only outside for less than five minutes and it spread quickly. These two saved my life.”
Another woman said: "I looked through my window this morning and thought ‘oh, that's yellow’ - it frightened the life out of me.”
South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue said in an update at 6.30am: “Firefighters are continuing to fight the fire on Grimsell Crescent in Sheffield.
“We have eight fire engines plus specialist vehicles on the scene. The fire is affecting five houses and firefighters are working hard to contain the blaze.”