GAZETTE & HERALD: FIREFIGHTER Russ Lewns has been lauded a hero by two young brothers, after he saved their frightened dog from their smoke-logged home.

Firefighter Lewns, 35, was with one of three fire crews which responded to reports of a ferocious chip pan fire at the home of the Kauppinen family, in London Road, Chippenham, on Thursday evening.

Kent Kauppinen, 12, told how was relaxing after his dinner in his room, when he realised that something was wrong.

"I was upstairs playing on my PlayStation and my dad had just gone out to take our sister to college, when I heard the dogs barking," said Kent.

"I came downstairs and there was thick black smoke everywhere.

"I rushed out the front door and my brother Kris, who's 13, was there with a man who was trying to help and one of our dogs Monty.

"Then we realised that Mutley was still inside. I opened the door and called to him, but he just looked really scared and wouldn't come out then he ran upstairs."

At that moment, two fire crews from Chippenham and one Corsham appliance arrived.

Firefighter Lewns said: "There was thick black smoke coming out of the front door and the upstairs windows.

"After consulting with the two boys and establishing there were no other persons in the house, we put them on oxygen and four firefighters entered the building wearing breathing apparatus.

"We located the fire in the kitchen and the rear of the three-story house and firefighters set to work extinguishing it.

"While that was happening, myself and another officer went to find the missing dog. He was very frightened and had hidden in a wardrobe in the bedroom.

"When my colleague reached out to him, he snapped at his hand.

"So I picked up one of the dog's toys from nearby and he seemed to like that. As he came forward to take it, I reached out and quickly grabbed his collar and carried him out of the house."

Portable ventilating machines were brought in to clear the huge amount of smoke in the house.

Meanwhile, Kent and his brother were taken to Chippenham Hospital by ambulance after the fire, but were later well enough to go home.

"We got Mutley from the RSPCA rescue home in Bath two months ago and he has always been a bit nervous," said Kent.

"I think he must have seen the fire and panicked.

"We're just glad the fireman got him out and he seems good as new now."

Firefighter Lewns said: "It was just a case of finding a way of grabbing him really, but I love animals and they seem to like me.

"I'm just glad the boys and their dogs are okay."

The circumstances surrounding the fire are still being examined, but the kitchen and kitchen ceiling are badly fire and smoke damaged.

Chippenham fire crews returned to the Kauppinen's home on Friday to carry out a 'hot strike' fitting new smoke detectors throughout the house.

Leading firefighter Pete Crow said: "The property was fitted with smoke detectors but they were either faulty or had defective batteries.

"Had these been working correctly at the time of the fire, the two young boys would have been alerted early."