A NEIGHBOUR who led a woman out of her burning home to safety said her bravery was "totally out of character"

Donna Jordan, who risked her life after a fire broke out in a first floor maisonette at Stone Acre Court, off Clipstone Street, West Bowling, said she was usually "a scared person who doesn't go out much."

The 30-year-old, who lives just a few doors away from where the drama unfolded, was in the garden with a friend when she heard a strange popping sound. She saw smoke coming from a neighbour's window just after 3pm yesterday.

"I got up and ran. Luckily the woman in the lower flat had come out and opened the security gate so I could get straight in," she said.

"The door to the upstairs flat was unlocked so I just walked in but there was so much smoke I couldn't see a thing. It was black and grey. The only colour I could see was orange and that was the flames in the living room. The fire was flickering up, probably to just below my chest height.

"I could see the woman standing there it was if she was in a trance. I was shouting for her to move towards me but she just stood there.

"She was holding the living room door frame. I had to go to her and put my arm around here. Her skin was so hot I thought she was burning me.

"I talked her round and eventually she listened and started to move. Then she was going on about her cat and her coat. I got her out but I wasn't going to go back in for them. No one's seen the cat since.

"I knew the windows were going to blow at anytime. I could hear them. There are four gas points in that block so after I got her out I had to make sure everyone else was out.

"Anybody would have done the same. I don't even know why or how I did it. It was totally out ofcharacter for me. I'm usually a scared person and don't go out that much.

"I think I maybe did it because I remembered when I was 12 and stuck upstairs in a house fire thinking that no one was going to come and help. They did come and I did get out okay, but it's brought it all back."

Police, paramedics and a Bradford fire crew arrived at the scene and the 49-year-old woman was taken to Bradford Royal Infirmary for smoke inhalation treatment.

"She was really grateful and kept cuddling me. I don't know who the fire had started but it was well alight. The police told me if I hadn't got her out when I'd did she might not have survived, Ms Jordan said.

Ms Jordan's auntie, Lynn Troy, who was in the crowd gathered during the drama, said: "She did brilliantly. I'm proud."

Bradford Fire Station Watch Commander Simon Moore said the fire had gutted the living room and the rest of the property was badly smoke damaged.

"The neighbour did what they did and got her out but we'd never recommend anyone risking their own life. Luckily it was a good outcome but it could have ended differently," he said.

  • A 58-year-old woman has been arrested and is in custody on suspicion of arson.