Woman, 91, badly burned in flat fire

An elderly lady has sustained burns to her face, hands, back and thighs after her clothing caught fire whilst she was sat in her armchair.

Fire-fighters from Rochdale and Littleborough were called to the 91-year-old woman’s ground floor flat at Yew Court, Warwick Street, Hamer at 06.52pm on Tuesday night.

Prior to the arrival of the fire service a care worker had removed the elderly lady from the chair and extinguished the flames. The care worker sustained burns to both her hands and suffered from smoke inhalation.

Both casualties were taken to hospital by ambulance.

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, said: “The quick thinking and bravery of the care worker are to be commended as her actions undoubtedly reduced the severity of the injuries the elderly lady sustained.

“The cause of the fire will be subject of an investigation however, at this stage it is believed to have started as a result of a carelessly discarded cigarette.”