THE occupant of the house on fire in West Grimstead was alerted to the blaze by her neighbours who saw smoke coming from the bottom of the chimney. 

The woman, who is remaining anonymous, told the Journal that once she had been alerted to the fire by her neighbours, she checked her wood burner and "realised something was wrong" before attempting to put the fire out. 

She said: "I went to have another look and got some fire extinguishers."

Her neighbours then climbed on the roof of the house, before the fire brigade arrived "very quickly and saved part of the house". 

Crews from Salisbury, Wilton and Verwood alongside neighbouring crews from Fordingbridge, Romsey, Lyndhurst, Eastleigh and Redbridge, a water carrier also from Wilton, and Environmental Protection Unit from Gillingham are currently in attendance.

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