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Fire-starting tortoise quickly rescued by brigade

Harry Low
BBC News
LFB Two smiling firefighters in red shirts, one holding a tortoise, the other a black dogLFB
A black dog was also rescued by firefighters

A fire-starting tortoise has been rescued from the fourth floor of a block of flats in south London.

London Fire Brigade (LFB) was quick to respond after the lumbering land reptile knocked over a heat lamp which set fire to the hay in its enclosure on London Road in Mitcham on Thursday.

A black dog, hiding under the stairs, was also rescued and returned to its thankful owner following the fire at 11:40 BST, LFB said.

Crews from Mitcham, Wimbledon, Tooting and Wallington brought the fire under control by about 12:20.

LFB Fire fighters standing next to some trays with tortoises in.LFB
The unnamed reptile's owner may have to shell out for a new lamp

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