Seven taken to hospital after tumble dryer blaze
AFAMILY of seven were taken to hospital after being forced to flee their home when a tumble dryer caught fire.
Two adults and five children were taken to Royal Blackburn Hospital suffering from smoke inhalation after the blaze broke out in the early hours of Monday, January 14. Neighbours said they were awoken by the sounds of shouting and fire engines arriving on the street. One Avenue Parade resident said: “They were all really shaken up and devastated by what happened.”
AFAMILY of seven were forced to flee their home after a tumble dryer caught fire in the kitchen.
Two adults and five children were taken to Royal Blackburn Hospital suffering from smoke inhalation after the blaze broke out in the early hours of Monday, January 14.
Three fire engines from Hyndburn and Great Harwood were called to Avenue Parade in Accrington at 1.40am and spent around three hours putting out the blaze.
Neighbours said they were awoken by the sounds of shouting and fire engines arriving on the street.
One Avenue Parade resident said: “I was asleep in bed and heard a woman shouting. At first I thought it might have been an argument but then I saw all the fire engine lights.
“Thankfully they all got out okay. There are five children in the house so it could have been a lot worse.
“They went to hospital and came back home about 5am. I think they have found somewhere else to stay.
“They were all really shaken up and devastated by what happened. They seem like a really nice family.”
Another resident said she saw one of the occupants being consoled by a neighbour the next morning.
She said: “We didn’t know anything about the fire until the next morning when we saw a note through our door from the fire service.
“When I looked outside I saw a lady comforting someone from the house.”
Another resident, whose father lives next door to the damaged house, said: “I was woken by the noise of the fire engines and I could see a lot of people outside.
“My father lives next door.
“I called him and he said he was fine and his place wasn’t affected.”
The occupants declined to comment when approached by the Observer.
Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service said the blaze was caused by a tumble dryer electricity fault and caused fire damage to the utility area and kitchen and smoke damage to the rest of the house.
A spokesperson said: “On arrival, firefighters found that seven casualties evacuated the property when the fire broke and firefighters used four breathing apparatus, one hose reel and a ventilation unit to extinguish the fire which broke out in the kitchen.
“The seven casualties were treated at the scene and taken to hospital.”