BOTH appliances from Bude Fire Station and an appliance from Delabole were sent to reports of a property fire at an address in Poundstock just before midnight last Thursday.

On arrival crews found a fire in the kitchen area of a two storey detached property, involving a tumble dryer.

Teams of firefighters, wearing breathing apparatus, extinguished the fire using a high pressure hose reel.

Crews proceeded to remove smoke from the premises using the positive pressure ventilation fan.

A tortoise was rescued by officers from the kitchen area and the tumble dryer was removed from the premises.

A fire spokesman said: “Tumble dryers and washing machines contain powerful motors with fast moving parts that get very hot. If you do not clean and maintain your machine, excess fluff or lint can build up over time and catch fire.”