A BRAVE teenage girl suffered an asthma attack after attempting to tackle a rampant car fire on Monday evening (February 20).

The heroic act came when a ruptured fuel tank resulted in a Hyundai car going up in flames on Don Close in Tilehurst at around 6pm.

The girl attempted to douse the inferno, along with some other neighbours, which resulted in her suffering the attack.

She received treatment for the medical episode and was recovering by the time a crew from Caversham Road Fire Station had extinguished the blaze.

Medication was given to treat her asthma and she did not require any further treatment at Royal Berkshire Hospital.

Crew manager David Grayson, from Caversham Road, said: "We had a car fire over at Tilehurst yesterday evening, which led to a young girl having an asthma attack. She tried to tackle the fire herself.

"We were called at 6.05pm to Don Close in Tilehurst and there was a car with a ruptured fuel tank that was well alight by the time we arrived.

"Some local residents attempted to extinguish the fire, which led to one teenage female suffering an asthma attack caused by all of the smoke.

"First aid was adminstered by the fire crews, but an ambulance crew checked her over and she was fine by the time the fire was put out.

"She was administered asthma medication and she was given medical oxygen at the scene, but she did not require hospital treatment.

"We extinguished the fire using a hose reel and we also had to use foam to put the fire out.

"We would like to remind members of the public at this time that it is unwise to try and attack the fire yourself and to wait for fire crews to arrive."