Fire crew break down house door to rescue OAP from fire

Eyewitnesses say smoke “billowed” out the door of her Oughtibridge home after firefighters kicked it through to get to the trapped woman.

Crews from Rivelin station pulled the woman, thought to be in her 70s, to safety after she was overcome by smoke at her Birch Grove home.

The blaze is thought to have started at around 1.35pm.

Neighbours watched in horror as huge flames were seen leaping from the roof and clouds of smoke engulfed the street.

One neighbour, who did not want to be named, said: “The flames were huge it was very scary – the lady is lucky to be alive.

“The firemen literally burst down the door to get to her and smoke billowed out of it.”

Neighbour Charley Staniland, who was at work when it happened, said: “Everyone in the street is hoping that she will be okay.”

A spokesman for South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue said: “The premise was well alight on arrival. Firefighters using breathing apparatus to enter the building and rescued an elderly lady who was taken by ambulance to hospital.”

Fire crews were on site for around four hours following the blaze trying to make the area safe.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.