FIREFIGHTERS not only called an ambulance to take 90-year-old Sylvia Chisman to hospital after she burned her hands trying to put out a kitchen fire, but they also rescued her tortoise.

But before the pensioner would get in an ambulance to be taken to hospital she wanted to be assured that her tortoise had been rescued from the kitchen.

Wiltshire Fire Brigade received a 999 call at 12.45pm on Monday to a kitchen fire in Devizes Road, Upavon.

Pewsey firefighters were the first on the scene and they discovered that a serious fire in the kitchen had been partly extinguished by Mrs Chisman.

While fighting the fire that had started on her cooker, Mrs Chisman received burns to her hands and arms.

Leading Firefighter Chris Wootton said: "She had burns on her hands but they were not too bad.

"She did not want to go to hospital and would only get in the ambulance after we found her tortoise."

Mr Wootton said two firefighters wearing breathing apparatus went into the still smoke-logged kitchen and brought out the tortoise safe and well.

Mrs Chapman was taken to Salisbury District Hospital and released after treatment.

It is believed that Mrs Chisman had been cooking a meal but let a pan of food boil dry.

The firefighters discovered that Mrs Chisman had a smoke alarm fitted but it was not working.

Mr Wootton said: "We went back the same evening as part of our Community Fire Safety scheme and put up a new smoke alarm for her."

Meanwhile, swift action by firefighters from Marlborough and Pewsey has been credited in saving a chimney fire at a thatched cottage in Ram Alley, near Burbage, from spreading to the rest of the building.

Crews were called to the house shortly before 8pm on Sunday and found smoke coming from the thatch around the chimney.

They cut two metres of thatch from around the chimney and used a stirrup pump to dowse the smouldering straw.

A thermal imaging camera was used to make sure that the fire was completely out before the crews were stood down after midnight.

This was in contrast to a fire at Easterton, near Devizes, three weeks ago when a chimney fire ignited thatch and led to the blaze severely damaging the cottage.

Pewsey fire officer Mervyn Hampshire is seeking sponsors for a tough charity ride and trek in Australia.