12:37pm Saturday 17th November 2007
By Marc Meneaud
A brave member of staff came to the rescue when a woman in her 80s became trapped in a burning flat at a sheltered accommodation complex today.
About 40 residents aged 55 and above had to be evacuated from Dove Court, Bolton Street, Barkerend, when the blaze started in the woman's first-floor flat at about 7am.
The flames, which started in the woman's bedroom, triggered the smoke alarm and the estate manager was alerted.
She went up to the elderly woman's heavily smoke-logged flat, picked her up and carried her outside before evacuating the rest of the residents.
She then met a fire crew from Odsal, which was quickly on the scene to tackle the blaze.
Firefighters using specialist breathing equipment investigated the new-flat development to check no one else was trapped, and a large ventilation fan was used to clear away the smoke.
The woman was taken by ambulance to Bradford Royal Infirmary for treatment for smoke inhalation, along with two members of staff who had been in the building at the time.
A fire service spokesman hailed the bravery of the estate manager.
Dave Jones, Odsal crew manager, said: "She had put herself at risk but she had done an excellent job in locating the occupant and removing her to safety. It was very brave."
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