An emergency services operator was today praised after she reassured a Shoebury couple as they waited to be rescued from their burning home.

The senior fire operator gave the woman and her 72-year-old husband advice and talked them through their fears while fire crews rushed to their Pentland Avenue house.

Two firefighters using breathing apparatus rescued the couple after the fire broke out at 5.38am today.

They were treated for smoke inhalation and given oxygen by firefighters and were checked by paramedics but declined to go to hospital.

A fire service spokeswoman said: "When the senior fire controller took the call she recognised the couple could not get out of the house.

"She told them to stay in their bedroom and shut the door.

"She found out which bedroom the couple were in so the firefighters could easily rescue them.

"She then reassured the woman that fire crews were on their way and calmed her down when she sounded fearful."

Station Officer Tony Tubb added: "It is an unusual situation but fire operators are trained to give this sort of advice.

"It takes a lot of concentration to do it as the operator is talking to someone who is in a very frightening situation.

"The senior fire operator dealt with the situation excellently and it came to a satisfactory conclusion."

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