A grandmother made a desperate dash to safety in nothing but her slippers after a fire tore through her bungalow, making sure her beloved pets came with her.
Paula Fenton had no time to grab much when flames started spreading through her home, but there was never any question about leaving without her dog and budgie. She scooped them up and got out as fast as she could, escaping into the street while the fire took hold behind her.
The blaze ripped through the bungalow with frightening speed, leaving Paula with little more than the clothes on her back and the animals she refused to leave behind. Neighbours would have watched on in shock as emergency services rushed to the scene to bring the fire under control.
For Paula, the pets were not optional. Many people in that situation might focus purely on getting themselves out alive, but she was not leaving without them. It is the kind of split-second decision that says a lot about a person, and in this case it meant two animals got out safely alongside their owner.
Fires in residential bungalows can spread particularly quickly due to the single-storey layout, with smoke and flames having fewer barriers to slow them down. Escaping in slippers with armfuls of pets is about as raw and unplanned as an emergency exit gets, but Paula made it out.
The full extent of the damage to the property is not yet clear, but the priority right now is that Paula and her animals are safe. Losing your home and your belongings in a fire is devastating, but walking away with your life and the pets you love is what matters most in those first moments.
Fire safety experts consistently remind people to have an escape plan in place at home and to avoid going back inside a burning building for any reason, including pets. Paula was lucky she could grab hers on the way out rather than having to make an impossible choice.
For now, Paula is left to pick up the pieces after a terrifying experience that no one ever expects to face.