A lizard was saved by firefighters yesterday after neighbours alerted authorities when the vivarium the gecko was homed in set on fire.

Although the fire was not visible from outside the property in Hithercroft Road, Downley, nearby residents raised the alarm when a smoke alarm went off.

Firefighters then entered the property shortly after 9.15pm after they smelt smoke through the letter box.

They later realised the fire was started because of a wiring fault at the back of the leopard gecko’s vivarium.

Watch commander Stuart Grosse, from High Wycombe Fire Station, said: “The burning wiring dripped on to the carpet, which caught the carpet alight.

“The carpet burned slowly around the back and side of the wooden cabinet that held the vivarium.

“The area of burning carpet had been confined by the cabinet and walls, but the fire had just started to expand into the main part of the bedroom, so I believe it would only have got worse.

“It was definitely the smoke alarm which saved the day - and the gecko also survived.”

Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus put out the fire with a hose reel.

He added: “No-one was in the house, and we understand the owner hadn’t been at home since about 1pm.

“Although the fire had been burning for quite a while, amazingly there was very little damage in the bedroom.

“There was a scorch mark on the wall, some burn marks to the wooden cabinet that the vivarium was on, a small but expanding area of burnt carpet and light smoke-logging throughout the first floor of the house.”

Bucks Fire and Rescue Service offers free safety checks to identify potential fire risks in your home and help you minimise them.

The checks include free smoke alarms and free installation. For more information call 01296 744477 or email cs@bucksfire.gov.uk