Rescue relief

Blaze is a close call

A man rescued from a burning building owes his life to the fact he lives close to Oldham Fire Station.

After dragging the unconscious man from his bedroom and reviving him, firefighters said they arrived in the nick of time because they are based just a couple of hundred yards away.

The blaze, believed to have been sparked accidentally by a cigarette, took hold in Lees Road, Clarksfield, at 2.20am today.

A smoke alarm was triggered and fire fighters wearing breathing apparatus battled through thick, black smoke to locate the victim, aged around 26, and carry him to safety.

Fire service trauma technicians gave him treatment for smoke inhalation. He was then taken to the Royal Oldham Hospital where he is believed to be in a stable condition. The man lives in a house that’s split into four individual sections — similar to flats but with communal facilities.

Another person in the building escaped the blaze before firefighters arrived.

The fire affected the bedroom and caused a small amount of damage and smoke logging.

Oldham Fire Station watch commander Nick Pine said: “Luckily, the front door was open. The gentleman was in a first-floor bedroom and was rescued by two firefighters and revived by us.

“He was unconscious when we took him out of the bedroom but he came round a little bit later, before he went to hospital, and we believe he’s stable.

“He was very lucky. He lives just two to three minutes from the fire station.

“If he was not so close it might have been a different outcome. One of the occupants had called the fire service — we’re not sure whether it was the victim himself or not.

“The incident is under investigation but it’s not believed to be suspicious.

“It’s more likely to come down to smoking materials.”

A charred interior door and belongings were in the property’s front yard this morning and the windows fogged with smoke.