The Guardia Civil rescued two elderly residents from a house in Formentera after a fire broke out in an attached garage containing several butane gas cylinders.

The incident occurred on the evening of September 9 and required the intervention of police officers before firefighters arrived at the property.

Couple Refused to Leave the House

The emergency was reported at around 8:30pm after a fire broke out in the garage of the property.

When Guardia Civil officers reached the scene, they found an 86-year-old man outside trying to tackle the flames with a garden hose.

His 80-year-old wife was still inside the house.

Despite the danger, the couple initially refused to leave the property.

Butane Cylinders Increased the Risk

The situation became particularly dangerous after officers discovered several butane cylinders inside the garage where the fire was burning.

With the flames already fully developed, the presence of the cylinders created an additional risk for anyone remaining nearby.

Officers therefore intervened to get the couple away from the property and ultimately had to physically remove them from the house.

Emergency Services Attend the Fire

A local police patrol, an ambulance and several firefighting vehicles were subsequently involved in the response.

Firefighters used two pump vehicles and another emergency vehicle equipped with a pump to tackle the blaze.

The operation continued until the fire was brought under control and the immediate danger had passed.

No Serious Injuries Reported

The two residents were rescued safely and received medical attention following the incident.

No fatalities were reported.

The rapid intervention of the Guardia Civil was particularly important because of the combination of the fire, the enclosed garage and the presence of gas cylinders.

A Narrow Escape

The incident highlights how quickly a domestic fire can become extremely dangerous, particularly when residents remain inside a property.

In this case, the elderly couple initially resisted leaving their home despite the advancing fire.

Officers ultimately managed to remove both residents to safety before firefighters concentrated on extinguishing the blaze.

The emergency in Formentera ended without loss of life, but the circumstances created a potentially serious situation for the couple and the emergency personnel responding to the fire.