The firefighter with the tortoise. (LFB via SWNS)
By James Gamble
A has to be rescued after starting a fire - by knocking over a heat lamp.
Firefighters were called to the scene in Mitcham, south London, after the "naughty" shelled reptile .
The lamp fell onto hay in the tortoise's aquarium, starting a small fire in the maisonette on the fourth floor of a residential block of flats.
After rushing to attend to the fire, crews were made aware of two pets in the property and rescued the fire-starting tortoise as well as a dog, who was found hiding under the stairs.
(LFB via SWNS)
Both animals were thankfully unharmed and returned safely to their grateful owner.
A spokesperson for the London Fire Brigade (LFB) explained that crews from four nearby fire stations were called to deal with the blaze.
"A mischievous and his canine friend were rescued last week (10/07) from a fire on London Road in Mitcham," the spokesperson said.
"The fire was caused by the naughty tortoise knocking over his heat lamp, which fell onto the hay - a combustible material - in his aquarium.
"The Brigade was called at 11:40 and the fire was under control by 12:22.
"Crews from Mitcham, Wimbledon, Tooting and Wallington Fire Stations attended the scene."