An elderly woman remains in hospital with burns after a fire gutted part of a Newton Heath care home last night.
Crews are returning to the scene this morning to establish exactly what caused the fire – however it is believed to have started accidentally.
Around 15 vulnerable residents are bedridden, which meant the crews had to act quickly when they were called to the blaze at Doves Nest Nursing Home in Windsor Road at 9.50pm.
Watch Manager Ian Hughes, from Philips Park Fire Station, said: “When we arrived it was clear that there had been a serious fire because staff had already evacuated half the residents and we were faced with a fire in a bedroom where an elderly woman was still inside.
“Four firefighters in breathing apparatus went in and rescued the woman and gave her oxygen.”
The elderly woman was given first-aid at the scene then taken to hospital by ambulance after suffering burns and smoke inhalation.
The fire raged in a ground-floor flat within the three-storey building but was dealt with in a couple of hours by crews from Philips Park, Gorton and Ashton fire stations.
Another woman who was in a nearby room was also rescued and taken to hospital for a precautionary check-up after breathing in smoke.
Firefighters used high pressure fans to clear the smoke and stayed on the scene to assist care home staff in supporting the residents.
Station Manager Simon Hopes said: “Fire safety facilities within the building such as self-closing doors and sub division on the corridors ensured that the fire didn’t spread and this was a huge help for crews in dealing with the incident.”
Image courtesy of WikiCommons, with thanks.
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