Stark warning after fire rescue

7:50am Thursday 8th May 2008

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A leading fire officer today told how a chip pan fire nearly led to a massive loss of life that would have scarred the district for years to come.

Bradford District Fire Manager Keith Robinson said that the fire that started in an unattended pan combined with missing smoke alarms could have led to the deaths of more than six people.

He spoke after a mum described the agonising moments she feared all her six children were going to perish as choking smoke billowed through their home in Tyne Street, Barkerend. Unable to reach her children upstairs Karen Walsh managed to climb out of a window to dial 999, while four of the youngsters had to leap for their lives out of upstairs windows and her oldest son lowered the youngest to safety before he was rescued by firefighters.

Miss Walsh, 41, had been asleep in her downstairs bedroom when a burning stench of plastic woke her, just after 2am yesterday.

"I was still half asleep when it woke me, I opened the door and went into the kitchen, it was all black I still didn't realise what was happening but when I got into the hallway I was blinded by the smoke, I couldn't breathe then I knew it was my worst fear - a fire.

"I only got half way up the stairs, I couldn't go any further. I couldn't get the kids out."

Miss Walsh managed to get back to her bedroom and grab her mobile telephone before climbing out of the window.

"I just wanted to be sick, I felt useless. I was ringing 999 and Becky, one of the twins, was at the bedroom window upstairs screaming at me to get them all out, to get some ladders but we didn't have any. I thought they were all going to die in there."

Terrified Miss Walsh ran to neighbours for help while a rescue service operator tried to calm her down.

Her other twin Kayleigh, 17, Codie, 15 and younger brother Duane, ten, got through the smoke to a landing window at the back of the house and jumped clear.

Becky also decided to jump and 19-year-old William grabbed six-year-old Josh and dropped him into the arms of his sister.

"Damage wise to the house I'm gutted but as far as the family goes, I'm just so relieved we all got out. We were so lucky. You hear on the news about families dying in house fires but you don't think tragedies like that can ever happen to you. None of us are untouchable," said Miss Walsh.

The whole family were taken to Bradford Royal Infirmary for treatment for smoke inhalation and were allowed home later.

"We've got no water, no gas - nothing. The kitchen and everything in it is lost completely and the rest of the house is black with smoke - but we've still got our lives. Everyone who helped us were just excellent - the firecrews, the paramedics and at the hospital - everyone."

Bradford District Fire Manager Keith Robinson said lessons had to be learned from the near-tragedy.

"We could have had a massive loss of life, there were six young people trapped in that house. We were lucky they got out but we might not be lucky another time. To have had a tragedy from that would have had a major impact on the city."

Bradford firefighters confirmed an unattended chip pan had started the blaze and said that smoke detectors in the house had been removed.

Mr Robinson said: "We want our city to be a safe place to live, we keep telling people not to mess with smoke detectors, they are there to save lives. To get ones fitted for free, all people have to do is ring their nearest fire station."A BCHT spokesman said: "As a caring and responsible housing landlord we are relieved to hear that everyone was safely evacuated from the property.

"On hearing of this incident, we arranged for a maintenance manager and a neighbourhood officer to visit the property straightaway. They are arranging for the gas and electricity to be reconnected immediately. Essential repair work is also being carried out so the house is habitable for the family to return to their home."

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