Man rescued from house blaze

An elderly man was recused by firefighters after a fire at his home in Rochdale on Tuesday, October 9.

Crews from Rochdale and Heywood Fire Stations were called to Hurst Street at 2.06pm following a call from a neighbour.

The fire had started in the kitchen of a terraced house and an 83-year-old man was trapped inside.

Luckily, smoke alarms fitted inside the property alerted the man to the fire but he was unable to get out safely.

A neighbour who heard the smoke alarm called the fire service and firefighters were on the scene within minutes.

Watch Manager Paul Wilkinson, from Rochdale Fire Station, said: “It appears that the man has put an electric kettle on a gas hob, which has caught fire. He was alerted by a smoke alarm and he managed to move the item away from the cooker but was overcome by the smoke and unable to get out.

“When we arrived on the scene, the kitchen was smoke-logged and because the fire involved plastic the smoke was acrid.

“We had to use a door-ram to get into the house because the door was locked and the keys weren’t near to the front door.”

Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus went into the property and put out the fire using hose reels.

Fire service trauma technicians gave oxygen therapy to the man and he was taken to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation.

Chair of Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Authority, Councillor David Acton, said: “It is fortunate that this property was fitted with a smoke alarm and I would urge everyone to ensure they have working smoke alarms in their homes which are tested once a week.

“If there is a fire in your home – get out, stay out and call 999. Don't try to tackle the fire yourself.”