A woman has been praised by her community after she saved the life of a young boy whose house was engulfed in flames in Hartlepool.
The fire broke out in a terraced property on Lindsay Road in Hartlepool on Wednesday.
The neighbour, who does not want to be named, lifted a boy over her fence to stop him running back into the burning house as he tried to rescue his two dogs.
She said: “I was just getting ready to pick the bairns up from school when the young boy started braying on the kitchen window and shouting for help. He said 'my house is on fire’.
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“I knew the dogs would have perished and he would perish if he went in. I don't know where I got the strength but I just grabbed him from over the fence and hauled him over.”
She explained her shock at seeing the boy running for the back door as she called 999.
“I didn't stop to think, it was just instinct, I just did what anyone else would have done in those circumstances.
“I have never, ever seen a fire go up that quickly. The whole house was just engulfed - it was like an inferno.”
The blaze tore through the house
|UGC
An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the fire.
The four houses attached are badly smoke-damaged, with the occupants being forced to move out.
The neighbour continued: “I can't commend the firefighters enough, they were amazing and saved all four houses from being destroyed.
“The community has been fantastic.
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Cleveland Fire Brigade have confirmed investigations into what caused the fire are underway (stock picture)
|GETTY
“It was absolutely awful, but it could have ended up being a hell of a lot worse,” she told Teesidelive.
The two dogs were sadly killed in the fire.
A spokesman for Cleveland Fire Brigade said: “Cleveland Fire Brigade were called on March 25, 2026, at 2.52pm to an incident at Lindsay Road, Hartlepool.
“Four fire appliances in attendance from Hartlepool, Billingham and Saltburn. Two breathing apparatus, three hose reels and 3x 45mm jets used.
“The stop call was received at 5.46pm. Investigations are ongoing as per our usual procedure.”
The fire brigade said the house was 100 per cent fire-damaged.
A spokesman for Cleveland Police said officers were called to reports of a fire on Lindsay Road in Hartlepool shortly before 3pm on Wednesday, March 25.
They said: “Enquiries are currently underway to establish the circumstances of the fire. Anyone with information can contact Cleveland Police on 101, quoting reference number 055661.”