FIREFIGHTERS have praised a woman whose quick action may have saved the life of a man who was asleep when burning paper was pushed through his letterbox.

A 34-year-old man from Waiblingen Way, Devizes, was arrested by police who were called to the scene after they were alerted by fire crews at about 11.20pm on Sunday, May 8.

The man was arrested on suspicion of arson and intent to endanger life and taken into custody at Melksham police station.

He was later released on bail while further inquiries are made.

Devizes fire commander Pip Flowers said: “It is extremely lucky that someone was passing the door and acted so quickly. I understand a middle-aged man was asleep inside when it happened.

“I think he had been asleep in an armchair and so if this had not been spotted the outcome could have been very serious indeed. They managed to pull the paper out of the letterbox and stamp on it to put it out.

“By the time we got there the fire itself had been dealt with but we checked to make sure no sparks had spread. It is one of those incidents that turned out not to be a serious fire but it could well have been quite different.”

The partner of the woman who put out the fire said she had not been injured.

Neighbours were alerted to the incident when they saw fire and police vehicles arrive at the flats at the far end of Waiblingen Way at around 11.30pm.

Some took to social media to say they had seen a large police presence and two fire engines arrive near the flats. Later a senior fire officer was in attendance along with a police forensic team.

The property where the fire happened is managed by Aster.

A spokesman for the company said: “We are aware of an incident at Waiblingen Way. This matter is currently being investigated by the police so it would be inappropriate for us to comment further at this stage.”

Aster declined to say if it would be carrying out its own investigation into the incident.

A Wiltshire Police spokesman confirmed the details of the arrest.