EVACUATED neighbours feared the worst after a blaze ripped through the upstairs of a house and a pensioner was rushed to hospital.

A probe has been launched by police and fire crews to establish if there are any suspicious circumstances surrounding the fire.

The 66-year-old woman was rescued by crews using thermal imaging cameras to find her in the smoke and fire filled house.

She has now been transferred to hospital in Liverpool with non-life threatening injuries.

Two dogs in the property at the time were uninjured and are being cared for by neighbours.

Emergency services were called to Newbarns Road, Barrow at 8.22pm on Wednesday.

Fire Engines from Barrow, Walney and Ulverston fire stations responded to the 999 call, joining police and an ambulance crews. Eight members of Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service used specialist breathing equipment to enter the property and tackle the blaze.

The elderly woman was rescued from the building by firefighters and was handed to paramedics for treatment before being taken to Furness General Hospital.

A police spokesman said: “Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding a fire which occurred at a property on Newbarns Road, Barrow, on Wednesday.

“A 66-year-old woman from Barrow is being treated at hospital in Liverpool. Her injuries are not life-threatening.”

A fire service spokesman confirmed that an investigation has been launched into the cause of the fire.

Barrow fire station watch manager Paul Milburn said the woman had been on the first floor and they had used special cameras to find her and carry out a successful rescue mission.

He added: “At 8.22pm firefighters attended a house fire on Newbarns Road. The fire was on the first floor of a two-storey house. All utilities to the property were isolated as firefighters, six wearing breathing apparatus, rescued the lady from a first floor bedroom.

“The fire was then put out using two hose reel jets. Thermal imaging cameras were used to make sure there were no further hotspots of fire and the casualty was taken to hospital by ambulance with injuries from the fire.

“I would like to thank all the other emergency services for working with us on a good co-ordinated rescue.

“The fire investigation is still ongoing and there are no results from that at the moment.

Leanne Crossman, of Abbots Vale, Barrow, lives next door to the pensioner with the back of her home joining onto the damaged property.

She said at one point, some of th eneighbours thought she had died. The 23-year-old said: “I was out and received a call from the neighbour across the road telling me they had seen smoke coming from the house. By the time we came back we couldn’t get to our house and had to wait until about 10.30pm.

“There were four fire engines and police at the scene. At one point it was rumoured by people at the scene that she had died as she was brought out wrapped up in something. It turned out to be a special fire retardant cover and she was, thankfully, OK.

“The dogs are being looked after next door.”

Another neighbour, who didn’t want to be named, said he too had to leave his property and was unaware anything was going on until he saw fire engines on the street.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101.