A 50-YEAR-OLD woman was rescued when two quick-thinking bystanders broke her door down after a fire started.

The blaze, which is believed to have been started deliberately, happened on Saturday night, in Quilters Straight, Basildon, just after 7pm.

A cat and dog were also rescued from the fire, which started at the front of the property.

A neighbour, who asked not to be named, said: “The fire started on the porch. Someone walking past spotted it and the fire brigade was called.

“It was all very quick. A couple of lads, who were walking past, quickly jumped over the fence and smashed the door in.

“The woman was inside and the house was filled with smoke, but I think she was OK.

“Luckily, the fire brigade arrived really quickly and put the fire out.

“It could have been a lot worse – it could have spread to the other houses.”

Firefighters managed to stop the fire spreading to the adjoining properties, and had extinguished the fire by 7.50pm.

Tony Haines, who lives a few doors down in Quilters Straight, said everyone was lucky the fire hadn’t spread.

The 50-year-old said: “The first I heard about it was when the police knocked on my door.

“It could have been a lot worse, all the houses are connected so the fire could have easily spread to ours.”

A spokesman for the Fire Service said: “When crews arrived they found the front of the property was on fire.

“Two firefighters immediately entered the smoke-logged property and rescued a woman.

“Firefighters also rescued a dog and cat from the property.

“The woman, who suffered some smoke inhalation, was left in the care of the Ambulance Service.”

Another resident, who asked not to be named, said that everyone involved had a lucky escape.

She said: “You know it can happen but always hope it won’t happen to you.

“I think the lady is alright and she is very lucky that the fire brigade came so quickly.

“They are brilliant and dealt with the situation extremely impressively.

“Most of the houses are terraced around here so it would have been awful if the fire had spread.

“Even though I don’t think it was that bad, it could have been an absolute disaster if it had spread. It just goes to show, you should always check your fire alarms and make sure they work .”

A spokesman for the police added: “Essex Police were contacted at 7.20pm on Saturday, February 25 following reports of a fire at a property in Quilters Straight, Basildon.

“It is believed the fire may have been started deliberately and an investigation is ongoing.”