Neighbours aid clothes fire woman

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/wales/north_west/8243781.stm

Version 0 of 1.

Two women have been injured, one seriously, after a fire at a flat in Bangor, Gwynedd.

Neighbours helped a 56-year-old woman who sustained 40% burns because her clothes were on fire. Another woman, 25, was treated for smoke inhalation.

A block of flats on the city's Maesgeirchen estate with 20 residents inside were evacuated during the incident at around 2230 BST on Monday.

The fire is believed to have started in the bedroom of the ground floor flat.

A spokesman for the North Wales Fire and Rescue Service said there was severe fire and heat damage to the flat, which is one of 14 in the block.

"The 56-year-old woman made her own way out of the flat with her clothes in flames and several neighbours had gone to her assistance," said a spokesperson.

"She was treated at the scene before being transferred to hospital for further treatment."

The fire is thought to have been started accidentally but the exact cause is being investigated.

Glyn Jones from the fire and rescue service said: " The smoke alarm system at the block of flats operated well and a full evacuation was carried out.

"Fire fighters will be in the area throughout the day offering free home fire safety checks to local residents," he added.