Pictures and video: 30 firefighters tackle blaze which leaves hole in house roof near Oswestry
More than 30 firefighters were forced to retreat from a burning house amid fears it would collapse.
Neighbours alerted emergency services after flumes of smoke were seen coming from the roof of the home in Trefonen.
A woman who lived inside the house got out of the blazing building unharmed after the fire broke out yesterday. It took place at a home in Woodland View in the village between Oswestry and the Shropshire border.
A Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said was a "substantial fire". "The entire roof of the property was destroyed," he said. "At one stage the firefighters had to move away from the property when it was feared the structure could collapse."
An investigation has been launched into the cause of the blaze.
The next door neighbours of the fire-hit home were left stunned by the blaze, which caused substantial smoke damage to their property. Ken and wife Jean Jones said they were in a state of shock following the blaze but were thankful for the help of their neighbour Val Smout, who raised the alarm.
Mrs Jones, who was out walking their dog Lucy when the fire broke out, said: "We wouldn't have had a home to return to if it wasn't for Val. She came and told me what had happened and called the fire brigade – she was just amazing. We're so thankful for her and thankful that nobody was hurt.
"It could've been a lot worse. I was only out for five minutes walking the dog when it happened."
Mr Jones admitted he feared the worst when he was making his way back home as he saw "a plume of smoke" in the air. "When you've been called to tell you the house which is the adjoining semi-detached house next to yours is on fire, you certainly fear the worst and that certainly didn't help," he said.
As well as raising the alarm, Mrs Smout provided a safe haven for those affected by the fire by making sure they were refreshed with plenty of cups of tea in the village hall.
Brushing off her decisive actions, Mrs Smout said: "I really didn't do much. It just so happened I was passing at the time, and I thought it had only just started so I rang the fire service. Initially I thought it was just a chimney fire but once I noticed the smoke was moving I thought it had to be more than a chimney fire, so I started knocking on doors to check everyone was OK."
Mrs Smout managed to help the woman who lived at the house where the fire started. She described her as being "extremely upset".
She added: "After that I thought, hang on, where's Jean? So I drove and managed to find her. The first thing I said to her when I saw her was, 'Get in the car Jean, your house is on fire.' Poor Jean, she didn't have time to think about anything. I'm just glad everyone's OK."
