Kitten hurt as Warndon flat fire gutted woman's kitchen

Phoebe Hall was taken home from work when she learned her kitchen had been destroyed by a fire caused by a suspected electrical fault with the plugs at her ground-floor flat in Crickley Drive in Warndon, Worcester.

The fire began at around 10am today (Friday) with three crews from Worcester Fire Station arriving to tackle the blaze.

The kitten was hurt as the Warndon flat fire gutted the young woman's kitchen and the little black kitten had to be placed on oxygen and rushed to the vet for emergency care.

The 20-year-old's 'shy and timid' female grey cat, Pablo, two, fled during the blaze but was found this afternoon. 

Her 12-week-old kitten, Roco, had to be taken by ambulance to the vet with oxygen tubes placed down his throat after a firefighter saw him trying to get out of a window and saved him by breaking the glass.

She thanked the fire crew and described the firefighter who saved Roco's life as 'a hero'.

RESPONSE: A fire crew outside Crickley Drive in Warndon - their quick actions saved the life of a kitten trapped inside when a firefighter broke the glass to get to him (Image: James Connell/Newsquest)

"The window was on the latch and he was trying to get through the gap but he couldn't get out.

"A firefighter smashed the window and got him out and they had to put oxygen down his throat and took him to the emergency vets in an ambulance," said Miss Hall.

She added: "We have lost everything in the kitchen and everything else has suffered smoke damage. I'm a wheelchair user and I suffer seizures. When I have a seizure I can't use my legs. Stress increases the risk of seizures. I'm a bit shaken."

ADORABLE: Kitten Roco was saved by firefighters who smashed the kitchen window to get to him following the flat fire in Crickley Drive, Warndon, Worcester (Image: Supplied by Phoebe Hall)

Miss Hall said her partner, who also cares for her, and family had arrived to offer support. 

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She left work at the Myriad Centre in Worcester after a neighbour called 999. She got a lift home thanks to her team leader.

FOUND: Pablo was found after she initially went missing after the fire in a ground floor flat in Crickley Drive, Warndon, Worcester (Image: Supplied)

Miss Hall, who also works at Worcestershire Royal Hospital as a healthcare assistant at the acute medical unit, arrived home at 11am to discover the damage.

"The Myriad Centre has been amazing and very supportive," she said.

AFTERMATH: The devastating fire gutted the kitchen in Crickley Drive but the rest of the property, managed by Platform Housing, was left relatively unscathed apart from some smoke damage (Image: Supplied)

She does not believe the flat above hers was damaged.  She has been told she will have to stay at a hotel for the weekend as the flat is not habitable in its current condition. 

A spokesperson for the Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service said they were called to the house fire at around 10.05am.

He added: “Three Worcester Fire Station crews attended Crickley Drive where there was a fire in a ground-floor flat.

“The flames were extinguished by two firefighters wearing breathing apparatus and using one hose reel jet and a covering jet.

“All people were accounted for and the property was ventilated using positive pressure ventilation.

“One cat was rescued and left in the care of the local vets due to smoke inhalation."