Elderly woman dies in Summervale fire

Reporter: Lucy Kenderdine
Date published: 18 December 2014


AN elderly woman died in a flat fire in Werneth shortly before 1am this morning.

At 12.40am crews from Oldham, Hollins and Chadderton attended Summervale House, off Manchester Street, to reports of a fire on the fifth floor.

Firefighters entered the building where they discovered large amounts of smoke in the corridors caused by a fire in a flat.

Crews extinguished the fire while a rescue team searched the building for residents and a family was rescued from the building.

A spokesperson from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that an elderly lady had died in the incident and that the cause of the fire was currently under investigation.

A further examination of the site was due to be carried out this morning.

Station Manager Mick Rothwell said: “Firefighters quickly entered the building and rescued a family of two adults and two young children from an adjoining flat.

“They were suffering from slight smoke inhalation and were treated at the scene by paramedics before being taken to hospital.

“Sadly an elderly woman was discovered inside the flat and was pronounced dead at the scene.

“Firefighters in breathing apparatus worked very hard to extinguish the fire using two jets.

“An investigation is now underway to establish the cause of the fire.”

Station Manager Mick Rothwell said: “Firefighters quickly entered the building and rescued a family of two adults and two young children from an adjoining flat.

“They were suffering from slight smoke inhalation and were treated at the scene by paramedics before being taken to hospital.

“Sadly an elderly woman was discovered inside the flat and was pronounced dead at the scene.

“Firefighters in breathing apparatus worked very hard to extinguish the fire using two jets.

“An investigation is now underway to establish the cause of the fire.”