A QUICK-thinking fire control operator has been praised for helping to save a couple who were trapped by a blaze in their North Yorkshire home.

Emma Allison, an operator for North Yorkshire Fire Service's Green Watch, gave life-saving advice to the couple from Kirby Knowle, near Thirsk while they were unable to escape from the flames because of the fierce blaze.

She received a 999 call from the couple at about 1.30am on Friday. They had been woken by the sound of a mirror breaking in their lounge. Details of the drama, caused by a faulty fireplace, appeared in Friday's Evening Press.

Emma realised that the 38-year-old man and his partner were trapped in the first floor of the house, while the fire raged in the ground floor.

She gave the couple fire survival guidance while firefighters rushed to the scene. During the call, Emma also obtained directions from the couple to help firefighters find the house.

Deputy chief fire officer Nigel Hutchinson said: "I am very proud of the professionalism displayed by Emma.

"Her quick-thinking ensured this incident had a happy ending. Without it, I am certain we would be looking at a tragedy.

"The couple were woken by the sheer heat breaking a mirror in their lounge. If the smoke detector which was installed had the correct battery fitted, they could have been alerted to the fire a lot sooner."

lAn 86-year-old woman who was rescued from her burning flat was described as "poorly but stable" in hospital today.

Vera Rigby, a former teacher, remains in the intensive care unit of York District Hospital, after fire crews rescued her from her ground-floor flat in Pasture Farm Close, Fulford, York, last Wednesday.

Updated: 12:09 Monday, November 04, 2002