OAP lucky to survive blaze

Firefighters today revealed the 76-year-old's home did not have smoke alarms fitted - and said they reached her just in time.

They discovered her slumped barely conscious half off the sofa in the lounge of her Birch Grove home, Oughtibridge.

Station Manager Dick Hutton said: "This was an extremely lucky escape. No smoke alarms were fitted in this property and this fire had been burning for some considerable time with the occupant in an adjacent room unaware of the danger.

"Smoke and fire gases have a narcotic effect whereby people succumb to them slowly, often without waking and it is remarkable that the outcome of this fire was not far more serious.

"With a fitted and working smoke alarm this lady would have had an early warning allowing her to leave the property sooner and without danger. I am amazed how fortunate she has been and wish to praise the prompt action of the attending crews."

The OAP was given oxygen by firefighters until paramedics arrived and whisked her to hospital. She is expected to make a full recovery.

The house was well alight when firefighters arrived, with flames shooting out of the windows. The property was also filled with thick smoke.

Crew manager Darren Perrott said: "Crews entered almost immediately through the front door, which we believe had been left open by neighbours trying to help.

"They had to fight the flames in the hallway to get to the lounge, which was the first room they searched, and thankfully they found the woman straightaway.

"She was moaning, so they could hear her, but the smoke was so thick that they did well to reach her so quickly. If she had been in there another couple of minutes we could have been looking at a fatality."

It is not yet known what started the fire in the kitchen.

To arrange for a free smoke alarm to be fitted by South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service call 0114 253 2314.

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