TORTOISES were rescued last night (Wednesday) after a smoke detector alerted their owners to a fire in their enclosure.

The blaze was caused by a heat lamp setting fire to a nearby piece of paper. The owners rescued the tortoises and they were evacuated to a place of safety.

On-call firefighters from Hartley Wintney and Odiham fire stations were called and used ventilation fans to clear smoke from the property in Hook.

Station Manager Rich Oram said: “Working smoke alarms save lives – due to having them fitted in their home, these residents were alerted to the fire and were able to act quickly, rescuing their beloved pets and evacuating to a place of safety.

“I would urge people to be careful when using a heating device and always follow the manufacturer’s guidance when fitting them.”

The crews provided immediate emergency care to two casualties suffering with smoke inhalation and were later taken to hospital by paramedics.

The fire service delivered leaflets and conducted Safe and Well visits before leaving the scene at 0.43am.