1:00pm Saturday 29th September 2007
By Katie Adams
TWELVE-YEAR-OLD Tabby the cat has been hailed a hero after saving her owners from losing their home to fire.
The cat had been shut in the kitchen of the flat in Pockeridge Road, Corsham, on Thursday September 20 when a grill pan caught fire.
As a result of her constant meowing, James Savage, 17 came rushing downstairs to find the kitchen on fire.
James' mum Ann Zawadzki, 55, said she had been out at the time, but was called by her son in the early afternoon to say their kitchen had been ruined by fire.
She said: "If it wasn't for Tabby making so much noise things could have been much worse.
"It had been James' birthday that day and he had just been making himself some waffles for lunch.
"He had gone upstairs and forgotten about them.
"We always keep the kitchen door shut to keep the animals out of there.
"It was just by chance that Tabby had escaped into the kitchen and was sitting on the fridge when the fire started.
"Tabby is definitely a hero."
The fire, which started at around 12.20pm, was so bad that the family are going to have to completely re-fit the kitchen.
Miss Zawadzki said: "We didn't have any electricity for a day and I am going to have to get rid of everything in the kitchen.
"Everything is too black with smoke damage.
"I don't have any insurance either so I am going to have to get in touch with my housing association to try and sort things out."
Miss Zawadzki lives in the ground floor flat owned by Sanctuary Housing Association, with her son and their six cats. She has lived there for the past 13 years.
She said: "Most of my children have moved out now so I like to have the animals around me.
"Luckily I am able to go and stay with my daughter nearby in Chippenham as I can't cook or anything here.
"James is okay though as he can go and have his meals down at the pub with friends."
Fire crews from Corsham and Chippenham attended the blaze.
They used a hose-reel and breathing apparatus to bring the fire under control.
Miss Zawadzki added: "The fire brigade had to take the cooker out straight away and put it into the garden.
"I don't know when things will be sorted and we can start living properly again."
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