A man in his 70s has been left in critical condition after a house fire broke out late last night (Wednesday, 23 April) on Saffron Drive in Oakwood, Derbyshire.
Emergency services were called to the scene at 11:24 pm on Thursday, 24th April after a 999 call alerted Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service to a blaze at a terraced property. Crews from Nottingham Road, Ascot Drive, and Kingsway fire stations responded swiftly to the incident.
On arrival, firefighters discovered a fire located in the kitchen of the property. Crews wearing breathing apparatus entered the home and used a hose reel jet to bring the flames under control. They also ventilated the property to clear the heavy smoke that had filled the premises.
A 72-year-old man was rescued from the property by fire crews and was immediately treated by paramedics from East Midlands Ambulance Service before being transported to hospital. He is currently reported to be in critical condition.
Derbyshire Constabulary was also on the scene, and a joint investigation between police and fire services is now underway to determine the exact cause of the blaze. However, initial assessments suggest there are no suspicious circumstances.
Fire crews confirmed they had secured the scene and left the location shortly after 12:20am.
A spokesperson for Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service said:
Thanks to the quick response of our crews, the fire was swiftly contained and extinguished. Our thoughts are with the gentleman and his family at this difficult time.
Local residents are being urged to ensure they have working smoke alarms and to review fire safety procedures in their homes.
Anyone with further information or who may have witnessed the fire is encouraged to contact Derbyshire Fire & Rescue or Derbyshire Police via non-emergency number 101.
