Council workers save man from fire

Adrian Brady, Ian Fletcher, Mick Hague and Paul Knowles work for Sheffield City Council’s contractor Amey, as part of the Streets Ahead street lighting team.

They were on Totley Brook Close, Totley, on Friday, January 8, when they spotted smoke coming from a house.

Ian, from Chapeltown, said: “I was working high on one of the nearby street lights when I spotted smoke coming from the house.

“We called the fire brigade and rushed over to the house, where an elderly gentleman was trying to get out of his home surrounded by black smoke.

“We managed to move him away from the house to safety and a few minutes later the house went up in flames.

“The gentleman was obviously in shock so the team stayed with him until the fire brigade arrived.”

Graeme Symonds, Streets Ahead’s Network Director, said: “The team was in the right place at the right time and we’re extremely proud of them.

“We will of course be recognising their efforts and commending them. Well done to the team.”

Coun Tony Downing, Cabinet Advisor for Transport and Environment, said: “I would like to congratulate the team on their bravery in rescuing this gentleman. Clearly their quick thinking in difficult conditions made all the difference.”

Streets Ahead is a huge, city-wide highways maintenance project that will upgrade the con dition of the city’s roads, pavements, street lights, bridges and other street items.