A QUICK-thinking worker has been commended for her actions after she helped to save a woman during a house fire.

Michelle Peacock received the Chief Fire Officer’s Commendation of the Year at Blenheim Palace.

The control operator, based in Calcot, took a call in the early hours of January 5 from a woman in distress.

She was startled by her fire alarm and it was Michelle's job to rapidly mobilise firefighters and reassure the caller.

Michelle, 32, from Wokingham, was just nine months into her role at Thames Valley Fire Control Service TVFCS when the incident took place.

She said: “My training was still fresh in my mind, and we always have refreshers and in-house training taking place.

"I gave the woman fire survival guidance while she was in her bedroom, something which is drummed into us during training, because ensuring the person’s safety is paramount.

“It’s good for TVFCS to be recognised, because our job is all about teamwork and being professional. This particular incident was in Oxfordshire, but we serve the whole of the Thames Valley.”

As well as helping to keep the woman calm, Michelle sent additional information to help her team, which was passed on to fire crews before they arrived at the scene.

Simon Furlong, chief fire officer at Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, added: “The most impressive thing throughout the entire call was Michelle’s compassion, reassurance and professionalism.

“She is a well valued member of the TVFCS. Her actions, on January 5, undoubtedly saved a life.”

TVFCS handles all fire and rescue emergency calls for the whole of the Thames Valley area, covering Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Royal Berkshire.