Flat gutted as spilt petrol sparks blaze

PETROL-SOAKED rags and a freak spark are thought to have caused a blaze at a Coldhurst flat.

A mother and son were left with nothing but the clothes they were wearing after the blaze gutted their ground-floor flat in Ramsden Crescent.

Fire crews from Chadderton and Oldham rushed to the scene at around 3.20pm on Friday and firefighters donned breathing apparatus to search the flat after reports that a woman was inside. But the fears proved unfoundedy.

It is thought the son, said to be in his early 20s, had spilt petrol on the floor while cleaning his motorbike in the kitchen, and had left the flat after cleaning it up.

A spark from a washing machine motor is then believed to have ignited fuel vapours.

Chadderton Watch Commander Paul Nicholson said: “It was an intense and rapidly developing fire that destroyed the whole flat.

“The man thought his mum was in there, he ran back into the flat but couldn’t get further than the door because of the intense heat.”

The flames spread to the property above, but no-one was in at the time.

A fire investigation team attended the scene over the weekend.

The man was seen by paramedics at the scene but declined hospital treatment, before he and his mother were taken to emergency accommodation.

Fire crews are embarking on a series of home risk assessments and warning residents about keeping highly-dangerous goods in the home.

Mr Nicholson added: “You would be surprised at how many times we see motorbikes in people’s homes.

“When all is said and done safety must come before security.

“We do not want motorbikes being brought into the house that have real potential to cause a fire.

“This was a serious fire that escalated quickly, people should be aware of the dangers.”