Longwood woman, 85, rescued from house fire by neighbour

Dec 16 2010 Huddersfield Daily Examiner

AN elderly woman was recovering in hospital last night after being rescued from her blazing Huddersfield home.

The 85-year-old was helped to safety by a neighbour and firefighters, after the blaze started in a bedroom at her Longwood home.

The bedroom of the house at Botham Hall Road was badly damaged by the fire, which broke out shortly before 1.30pm yesterday.

Huddersfield watch commander Andy Wooler praised the efforts of a female neighbour, who saw the smoke.

He said: “She keeps an eye on her neighbour and went in to help.

“The old lady had tried to tackle the fire as it started but was suffering from the effects of the smoke and was helped downstairs.

“We got there to help them out. The lady deserves praise”.

The elderly householder was treated at the scene for the effects of the smoke by firefighters and by Yorkshire Ambulance Service officers before being taken to Huddersfield Royal Infirmary.

Fire crews wore breathing masks to get inside the semi-detached house and fought the blaze using two hose reels.

The cause is being investigated but there are no suspicious circumstances.