Pensioner dies in blaze at her home
AN elderly woman who was rescued from the bedroom of her blazing bungalow has died from her injuries.
The fire started at 11.50am on Saturday in Skipton Avenue, Fartown, where she lived alone.
She was trapped in the fire but thanks to a special Careline alarm system the emergency services were alerted and firefighters arrived within eight minutes.
The 86-year-old woman, who has not been named, suffered 38 percent burns to her arms and legs and was given oxygen therapy by firefighters from Rastrick and paramedics before being transported to hospital by land ambulance.
Initially she was taken to Leeds General Infirmary for treatment to her injuries before being transported to Pinderfields Hospital in Wakefield.
Yesterday evening, West Yorkshire Police Duty Inspector Ralph Sillitoe confirmed that sadly the woman had succumbed to her injuries.
Huddersfield Fire Station Crew Commander, Kerry Blomfield, who attended the three-pump incident, said: “Obviously, we are thinking about this lady’s family and what they must be going through. Sadly, there is nothing else we could have done.
“She had smoke alert systems in the house but we are still unclear how the fire started and are waiting to hear from the Fire Investigation team about what actually caused it. There was not a lot left in her bedroom which was about two-to-three metres square.
“She was conscious and breathing and when the paramedics turned up she was still conscious when she was placed in the ambulance.
“She was talking to the lad who was giving her First Aid and administering oxygen therapy to her.”
Kerry’s colleague, Huddersfield Fire Station Watch Manager, Robin Ferguson, who also attended the scene, said: “Our thoughts go out to the family. I understand she had a son.”
The incident is eerily similar to one in Deighton on Friday evening, when a woman in her early 80s who also lived in a bungalow was rescued by firefighters and who is recovering from smoke inhalation and burns to her body.