Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Candle fire: 'Close call' for resident rescued as fire rips through Middlesbrough house

25 Feb 2014 13:00

Three people are taken to hospital as residents join firefighters in rescuing man from property in the West Lane area






A family have had their home gutted by fire after a blaze ripped through their house.


Firefighters say that they were lucky to escape the blaze in Lydbrook Road in the West Lane area of Middlesbrough.


It was started by an unattended candle at around 10am today.


A 62-year-old man was treated at the scene by paramedics and then taken to Middlesbrough’s James Cook University Hospital.


Two other people - a woman, 65, and a man, 32 - were taken to hospital as a precaution.


Four engines and 16 firefighters worked on extinguishing the fire and the owner lost her cat in the blaze.


Matty Stather, watch manager for the Middlesbrough station, said: “The cause was an unattended candle left on the hearth in the living room.


“When we arrived some members of the public were attempting to make a rescue of a gentleman who was in the property.


“We managed to get the gentleman out of the house and the members of the public gave me a hand - huge, huge gratitude to them.”


The living room was damaged throughout by fire and heat, while the rest of the property was severely smoke-damaged.


Watch manager Stather warned of the dangers of unattended candles.


He said: “They are so dangerous - especially if left unattended.”


Mr Stather added: “It certainly was a close call for the gentleman.


“Had the lady not gone back into the living room when she did then there’s a huge chance that none of them would have got out.


“We are not sure if there was a smoke alarm or not.”


Phil Dolan, 29, a scaffolder who lives in an adjoining property said: “I got a phone call from a neighbour and came home from work.


“It’s an absolute mess.


“I can’t believe how quickly it went up, it’s a shame really.


“Our property wasn’t affected - just by the smell of smoke.


“God only knows how long it’s going to take to make the property liveable again.”


A neighbour who wished not to be named said: “I thought ‘oh heck, that’s a lot of smoke’.


“I’m really shocked at the state of the house and how quick the fire took hold.”



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