Firefighters on Farrow Street

House fire that left man in hospital believed to have 'started from electrical heater'

by · Manchester Evening News

A fire at a house in Oldham is believed to have started from an electrical heater, the Manchester Evening News understands.

The blaze broke out at a home on Farrow Street in the Shaw area at around 6.45pm on Tuesday night (November 19). A man was rescued from the terraced property by emergency crews.

He was rushed to hospital from the scene. No further updates on his condition have been revealed, though a spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police said yesterday (Thursday) that he remained in hospital.

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After the blaze, a probe into the house fire involving both GMP and the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) was launched. The M.E.N understands that investigations on the scene have revealed that the source of the fire is believed to have been an electric heater in the house.

There was not believed to be any third party involvement in the incident. In a statement issued on Wednesday, a GMFRS spokesperson said: "At around 6.45pm on Tuesday 19 November, five fire engines from Rochdale, Oldham, Hollins and Chadderton fire stations and a drone attended a house fire on Farrow Street, Oldham.

"Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus arrived quickly and used three hose reels to extinguish the fire. Crews rescued one man from the house before they were transferred to hospital. Crews have remained on the scene and an investigation is ongoing."

Emergency crews on the scene on Farrow Street
(Image: Manchester Evening News)

Earlier this week, a neighbour recalled the moment firefighters descended on the residential street, off Crompton Way. “They rushed in and knocked the door through, then all the smoke was coming out of the house," she said.

"They pulled the man out and there were a lot of people working on him. I just hope he is alright. It was really scary, I was nearly in tears."

One eyewitness reported seeing 'at least 15' emergency service vehicles, including police cars, fire engines and ambulances, on the street. Pictures showed the front window of the terraced property involved in the blaze left visibly damaged while several items of furniture had been pulled out into the street.

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