FIREFIGHTERS battled to save five tortoises trapped in a fire at a house.
Crews were called to Greenfield Avenue, Atherton, on Monday night after a fire broke out in a bedroom where the tortoises were kept.
It is thought a heat lamp overheated and set fire to the tortoises’ bedding.
The house owner tried to put out the flames by throwing a quilt over the blaze but it also set alight.
Ian Gardener, watch commander at Atherton fire station, said: “The fire was well developed when we arrived. Flames were coming from the windows but the occupants had made their way out of the house.
“Firefighters tackled the blaze, which left the upstairs of the house badly damaged.
“Unfortunately, we were unable to save four of the tortoises but we were able to give oxygen to one, which we believe, survived.”
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