Puppy Buster sets his house on fire!

15 January 2007

Olivia Ayres, six, with playful puppy Buster

PLAYFUL puppy Buster caused mayhem when he started a house fire in Harold Hill - and then a fire engine dashing to the scene crashed!

The Staffordshire Bull Terrier was completely covered in black soot and suffering smoke inhalation when firefighters rescued him from the blaze at a house in Stratton Road.

The one-year-old dog is believed to have started the fire by turning on one of the electric cooker rings with his paw when left home alone last Friday, January 5.

To make matters worse one of two fire engines heading to the scene was in collision with a Transit van at Gallows Corner which resulted in the van driver being taken to hospital for treatment to minor injuries.

Keiley Ayres, 34, and her husband Warren, 34, were at work, and children daughter Olivia, six, and Billy, four, were at school when a neighbour spotted smoke in their living room and called the fire brigade.

Crews in breathing apparatus quickly tackled the blaze and found Buster with a search of the building.

Cliff Hunter, of Romford's White Watch, said: "The dog was a bit subdued but all right. We think he may have been jumping about and turned the ring on which set some nearby tea towels alight."

For more on this story see this week's Recorder.