A FENLAND woman has spoken of her narrow escape from her burning bungalow following an arson attack last night.
A shed fire spread to Debbie Scott's bungalow on Chapel Gardens, Benwick, leaving her in a race against time to get herself and her faithful dogs Cassie and Puddy out of the burning wreckage.
A 15-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of arson with intention to endanger life.
Ms Scott, 54, who is disabled, says she is devastated by the fire but is thankful that no one was hurt.
She said: 'I was in the bungalow at the time and did not know what was happening. I was sat in the lounge and I started to hear some crackling so I went outside.
'I'm quite short so I lent over the fence but I could not see anything so I went back inside.
'I was minding my own business but the crackling continued so I went outside again and looked down the path where I could see my bins and shed on fire.
'The fire had passed over to my utility room. I rushed straight back in the house to rescue my two dogs but there was smoke everywhere.
'I eventually got hold of them and passed them over the fence to a neighbour before getting out of there.
'I'm lucky that I was not in bed at the time because my bedroom roof caved in.'
Ms Scott paid tribute to her neighbours for their support in the aftermath of the ordeal.
She said: 'They were amazing. I only moved into the house in May so they were all strangers but they banded together to help me out.
'Some neighbours even offered to look after my dogs.
'I didn't realise such community spirit still existed. Everyone was fantastic.'
Ms Scott, who is staying with friends in Guyhirn this weekend, returned to the wreckage of her house today.
She said: 'The lounge and kitchen are OK but the utility room and bedroom are destroyed.
'It was such a lovely house. I'm devastated but if I'm honest I don't think its fully sunk in yet. I'm just trying to hold it together.'
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