Meltham man David Robinson praised over 999 Meltham fire call

Nov 25 2009 By Neil Atkinson

Meltham man praised over 999 fire call

A LORRY driver was labelled “a lifesaver” after alerting firefighters to a blaze – even though he had no idea where it was.

And last night, David Robinson was thanked by the two men who could have become victims of the blaze.

Mr Robinson, 54, could smell burning as he made his way to his car in Meltham early yesterday but could see no sign of a fire.

But he decided to ring 999 – and fire crews found two elderly men asleep in a house filling rapidly with smoke.

Brothers in law George Ridgwick and Ian Armitage had slept on, despite the smoke alarm sounding at their home.

Mr Ridgwick, thought to be in his 70s, was taken to hospital suffering from the effects of smoke.

But fire officer John Gant said: “Had Mr Robinson not rung in with his concerns, I am sure we could have been looking at a dreadful tragedy.”

Firefighters hammered on the door of the house in Clarke Lane to rouse the two men, as the building filled with smoke from a blaze inside their integral garage.