A quick-thinking neighbour has been praised by emergency services for their actions which potentially saved an elderly woman's life.
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About 4pm on Thursday, ACT Fire and Rescue responded to a triple zero call from a neighbour reporting a smoke alarm had activated in the house next door in Chapman.
When firefighters arrived they found heavy smoke coming from the house. Crew members looked through the window and saw the woman unconscious on the floor. They forced their way into the house and rescued her.
The elderly woman was treated at the scene by paramedics before being taken to Canberra Hospital in a stable condition.
ACT Fire and Rescue south commander Danny Brighenti said the fire was extinguished within minutes. The source of the fire was from the stove.
"If the smoke alarm had not activated there would have been a significant delay in alerting emergency services, dramatically increasing the risk of catastrophic consequences," commander Brighenti said.
"This incident is a timely reminder that smoke alarms save lives."
