VOLUNTEERS who came to the aid of the victims of a fire have been praised for their work.

British Red Cross fire and emergency support service (FESS) volunteers were called to the house in Sebright Avenue, Worcester, on Friday, March 1, by Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service to provide practical and emotional support to some of the residents and landlord Jason Brown.

Three residents were taken to hospital and the FESS were there to look after others who came back to the house later.

Mr Brown, aged 49, from Kempsey, said he could not fault the care the team provided. He said: “It’s a tenanted property I own and eight people live there. The Red Cross volunteers were lovely. “They looked after the tenants and even sorted out a cattery for a tenant’s cat. They invited me into their vehicle and offered me a drink. I couldn’t fault them at all.

“Everybody was safe, that’s the main thing. The fire affected one room and there’s smoke damage in the hall but thankfully most of the others are undamaged because the fire doors did their job. “I contacted the council and they sorted out alternative accommodation for four of the tenants. The others are staying with family and friends. I’m sure they were happy with the help they received from the Red Cross. I didn’t know the Red Cross did that sort of thing. I’ve seen them providing first aid at rugby matches but I didn’t know about this service. It’s a good thing they’re doing.”

Monty Wilde, 58, from Droitwich, is one of the volunteers who attended. He spent 40 years as a retained firefighter and has been volunteering for the FESS for nearly seven years.

He said: “I find real satisfaction in volunteering for this service. You have real involvement with people when they’ve experienced trauma and it’s good knowing you’ve helped them. When someone’s home has caught fire it’s our job to bring them back down to earth again and see things more clearly.

Mr Brown, who with his wife Denise owns the house and second hand furniture shop Odds and Sods next door, is now waiting for the insurance claim to go through before knowing how long the house will take to repair and when the tenants can return.