House blaze escape terror

FIRE drama . . . the scene in Smith Street, Lees today

A MAN fled his burning home in a major fire which destroyed the property and damaged four other houses.

Residents in Smith Street, Lees, evacuated their houses at 3.40am today as the blaze spread down the street.

Twenty-two firefighters from Oldham, Hollins and Chadderton were met with severe flames roaring from the roof.

They spent more than four hours bringing the inferno under control. But it left two houses uninhabitable and three others badly smoke damaged.

The fire appeared to start in a front bedroom. The man managed to get out before firefighters arrived.

He was treated by paramedics and taken to the Royal Oldham Hospital. His injuries are not believed to be serious.

The cause of the fire is now under investigation.

A fire service spokesman said: “The conditions we were faced with were serious.

“We did not know if anyone was in the property or not on arrival.

“We are unable to ascertain at this time what the cause is.”

Firefighters today carried out Home Fire Risk Assessments on neighbouring properties and fitted free smoke alarms.