Video: Family taken to hospital after Ripponden blaze

The incident happened at a semi-detached house on Ripponden Old Lane, at 2.57am today (Friday).

The house has suffered severe damage - mainly to the ground floor - but fortunately the frmale occupant who is in her 80s was staying at her son’s house.

The neighbours were initially alerted to the fire by their smoke alarm sounding. Initially they thought the fire was in their house, but soon realised it was the property next door.

Four appliances from Halifax, Rastrick, Illingworth and Mytholmroyd were sent out to the house and it was initially feared that the pensioner was trapped inside.

Firefighters forced their way into the house and after a search discovered that the property was empty.

Four firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used two hose reels to tackle the fire, along with a positive pressure ventilation fan.

Four people, including children, from the neighbouring house suffered smoke inhillation and were taken to hospital as a precaution.

But nobody was seriously injured.

A West Yorkshire Fire spokesperson said: “It was fortunate that the lady was staying at her son’s house. She is over 80-years-old and might have had trouble getting out.

“We managed to stop the fire spreading to the neighbouring property.”

Firefighters from Halifax and Rastrick are still at the scene damping down and helping to clear out furniture which was completely destroyed in the blaze.

The cause of the fire is under investigation, but it is suspected to have been an electrical fault with a freezer.

To book a free home fire safety check online visit www.westyorksfire.gov.uk/contact#safety-check or call 0800 5874536.