Last updated at 13:13, Monday, 04 March 2013

A WOMAN was taken to hospital following a flat fire in Barrow.

Two engines from Barrow and one from Walney were called to a flat fire in Lesh Lane just after midnight this morning.

On arrival at the incident, the crews found one female casualty on the pavement and she was taken to Furness General Hospital.

The upstairs flat was "well alight".

Fire crews, including four firefighters wearing breathing apparatus, used two hose reels and a large fan to extinguish the blaze.

Barrow station manager Roger Exley said he was not sure of the extent of the woman's injuries, but believed they may have been as a result of the fall, rather than the fire.

He said the police were aware of the incident, but had not yet had chance to interview the woman.

Crews entered the property because they believed somebody else may had been inside, but found no one else.

Mr Exley said: "We actually got the call from the occupant of the flat below, saying a lady had jumped from the first-floor window of the property because of the fire.

"We are still investigating the fire at the moment, so I can’t comment about the cause because it is still unknown.

"As the crews arrived, we found one female, about 50, lying on the floor of the pavement next to the property and we believe she has come out of the first-floor window of the property because of the nature of the fire."

Mr Exley asked people to shut doors when they go to bed to help prevent smoke and fire spread – and to have a working smoke alarm in the home.

First published at 10:50, Sunday, 03 March 2013
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk