Stephen has received a certificate of commendation from The Society for the Protection of Life from Fire, following a nomination by recently retired Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service Crew Manager Glen Saunders - one of the first firefighters on scene with Ipswich East fire station’s Blue Watch.
As Glen Saunders was not aware at the time of the key roles played by Joseph and Jack in the rescue, only Stephen was nominated for the Society’s award.
However, in recognition of the vital part all three men played, Suffolk’s Chief Fire Officer Jon Lacey has invited all three to the Service’s annual awards ceremony in October, where they will be formally presented with a commendation for their bravery.
Recalling the incident, Glen Saunders, said:
“A total of four fire engines were mobilised, but by the time we arrived, Stephen, Joseph and Jack had already extinguished the flames - preventing the fire from spreading throughout the rest of the house.
“While we strongly advise against members of the public tackling fires themselves, had they not acted as they did that day, we could very well have been attending a loss of life incident.”
Stephen Hobbs described the moment they intervened:
“The three of us were working as a repair team across the road from a house on Grange Farm Road when I noticed large amounts of black smoke coming from an open upstairs window.
“I ran to the house while Jack ran to our van to get our onboard fire extinguisher. I banged hard repeatedly on the front door in case anyone was home.
“Thankfully, it woke the only occupant who had been asleep in the room that had caught alight. He let me in, and while Joseph helped him get away from the house, Jack and I were able to put out the fire.”
Despite suffering smoke inhalation, the occupant made a full recovery.
It was later determined that the fire, which caused extensive damage to the bedroom, had been caused by a hair dryer left switched on, which subsequently overheated.
Chief Fire Officer, Jon Lacey, said:
“I look forward to welcoming Stephen, Joseph, and Jack to our awards ceremony later this year, where we can formally thank them for what they did. They showed outstanding bravery, quick thinking and teamwork, and their actions undoubtedly saved a life and prevented considerable damage to the property.
“Although they acted largely on instinct, as gas engineers accustomed to working with a highly flammable and combustible substance, they had the benefit of fire safety training provided by Cadent.”
Their training was also acknowledged by Vicky Grieve, Network Director for Cadent in the East of England, who commented: "We are extremely proud of Steve, Joseph and Jack for their fast-thinking and bravery when faced with this incident.
“As soon as they realised that something was wrong, they sprang into action and were able to use their training to ensure the safety of the occupant and extinguish the fire. They stayed calm throughout yet showed true heroism."
While both Cadent and SFRS have praised the men’s actions, Jon Lacey was also keen to use the opportunity to highlight wider public safety messages.
“Despite the positive outcome achieved that day, our advice to the public upon seeing or suspecting a fire is always to call 999 and ask for the fire service, then stay a safe distance away until our crews arrive.
He continued: “We hope this incident serves as a reminder to always take fire safety at home seriously. Please unplug heat-generating appliances after use, keep escape routes clear, and test smoke alarms monthly.”
Echoing that messaging, Councillor Steve Wiles, Suffolk County Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Health and Public Protection, added:
“Stephen, Joseph and Jack acted with incredible courage and presence of mind in a situation that would have overwhelmed many. Their instinct to help, combined with the safety awareness gained through their work, made a life-saving difference.
“While this story had a positive outcome, it’s also a timely reminder of how unpredictable fire can be, and why prevention, through simple steps like turning off appliances and checking alarms, remains so important.”
