Woman in life-threatening condition after house fire

A woman is in a life-threatening condition after being rescued by firefighters following a blaze in the kitchen of house in Rochdale.

Crews from Rochdale and Heywood fire stations were called to the property on Moorpark Avenue at 7.28am this morning, March 14, after a relative of the woman heard a smoke alarm sounding.

Firefighters in breathing apparatus rescued the woman, extinguished the fire and used a high pressure fan to clear the smoke from the property.

Watch Manager, Tom Hague, said: “We were met by one of the lady’s relatives, who had heard a smoke alarm sounding, entered the property and then called us.

“The fire was confined to the kitchen of the house and wasn’t intense, but the property was heavily smoke logged when we arrived. We found an elderly lady unconscious at the top of the stairs.

“We rescued her from the fire, gave her oxygen and carried out CPR until the ambulance arrived. She was taken to Fairfield General Hospital.”

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service fire investigators are currently at the property trying to establish the cause of the fire.

Chair of Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Authority, Cllr David Acton, said: “Our thoughts and sympathies go out to this woman and her family. We dearly hope she survives this fire.

“Our crews have worked tirelessly to save her and I would like to thank them for their brave actions during this incident.”