Arson attack rescue drama

A 55-YEAR-OLD woman was rescued by firefighters in the early hours today following a suspected arson attack at her home.

A wheelie bin at the front of the terrace house in Jackson Close, Primrose Bank, had been set alight while the woman was upstairs.

Four crews, two from Oldham, one from Hollins and one from Chadderton, were called to the scene at 1.17am following reports of a blaze.

The fire had spread to the front door but had not gone inside the house.

Firefighters used a ladder to rescue the woman, who was alone inside the property, from a back bedroom.

She was given oxygen therapy and taken to the Royal Oldham Hospital as a precautionary measure.

No one else was injured.

Officers spent an hour at the scene. The fire caused extensive smoke damage throughout the house.

A joint investigation has been launched by police and fire crews.

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said: “We would urge residents to think twice about wheelie bin storage.

“Ideally, they should be stored against a solid wall and away from doors and windows.”