A 39-year-old woman was fighting for her life in hospital tonight after a fierce blaze tore through her Keighley home.

Nasim Akhtar suffered serious injuries when she choked on toxic fumes after the fire broke out at her home in Rupert Street, Lawkholme.

Neighbours of the three-storey mid-terrace house were evacuated as firefighters tackled the flames.

Two fire crews from Keighley and one from Bingley were scrambled to the scene after fire took hold just before midnight last night.

The firefighters used breathing apparatus to reach Mrs Akhtar before taking her outside to an ambulance.

She remained in the intensive care unit of Airedale General Hospital in Steeton, near Keighley, today.

A spokesman for Keighley fire station said the ground floor of the house, together with two flights of stairs, were particularly badly damaged in the blaze. Smoke affected adjoining homes in the terrace.

Mrs Akhtar’s husband, Mohammed Azam, 54, is understood to have called the emergency services. He escaped injury in the blaze.

Police detectives and fire service investigators were at the scene yesterday attempting to piece together how the fire started in a first-floor bedroom.

Bradford Councillor Zafar Ali, a Conservative ward member for Keighley Central and a friend of the family, described the fire as a tragedy.

He said: “This family has been badly affected and everyone is concerned for them. People are being very sympathetic and waiting for the good news that she recovers. Everyone is hoping she survives.”

Mr Ali, who has known the couple for about 40 years, urged people to have free smoke alarms fitted by the fire service. “This should warn as a reminder that every household should have fire alarms fitted,” he said.

Detective Inspector John Priestley said the cause of the fire was under investigation but it was not currently being treated as suspicious.

For a free home fire safety check, call 0800 5874536.