text: Woman taken to hospital after Border Collie causes house fire - Stoke-on-Trent Live
  Woman taken to hospital after Border Collie causes house fire
  The woman had gone back into the house to rescue the dog
  A 33-year-old woman was taken to hospital after her pet dog caused a kitchen fire.
  Firefighters were called to Haregate Road, Leek, on Wednesday afternoon after neighbours said they heard smoke alarms and saw smoke coming from a house.
  A fire investigation showed the dog, a Border Collie that had been shut in the kitchen while the owner went out, had managed to turn on one of the hobs on the cooker - causing a plastic cake container which had been left on top to catch fire.
  The owner returned home and rescued the dog before firefighters arrived - but had to be taken to Macclesfield Hospital after suffering from smoke inhalation.
  Firefighters from Leek used breathing apparatus and a hose reel jet to put out the fire, and also rescued a hamster from the address.
  Now Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service are asking people not to go into burning buildings for any reason - and not to leave flammable items on cookers if they are leaving their pets in the kitchen.
  "Although we understand why the resident went back into the property to rescue their dog we strongly advice people not to go inside a burning building, to call us and wait for crews to arrive.
  "Thankfully the lady only suffered minor smoke inhalation and her injuries were not more serious which could easily have been the case. We encourage residents to get out and stay out.
  "This is not the first time we have been to a fire caused by pets jumping up at the cooker and we ask the public to ensure there are no flammable items on the hob and if possible not to leave pets in the kitchen.
  "If they have to shut animals in the kitchen it is important to isolate all appliances and ensure they can not be turned on."
  West Midlands Ambulance Service said they had sent one ambulance to the fire.
  A spokeswoman said: "We were called by the fire service just before 2pm to Haregate Road in Leek following a fire at a property.
  "One ambulance attended. We treated one woman for smoke inhalation. She was outside the property with firefighters when we arrived.