Woman dies after Stourbridge flat fire
A woman has died after a fire at her home, despite desperate efforts by ambulance and fire crews to save her.
The victim, who has not been named, suffered 80 per cent burns in the fire at her flat in Wollaston, Stourbridge.
She was rushed in a critical condition to Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
West Midlands Fire Service spokesman Neil Spencer said: "Unfortunately, we were later informed by the hospital that the lady had died from her severe burns."
The fire and ambulance services were called to the home of the woman, believed to be aged in her early 40s, in Rutland Place, Wollaston, at about 9.15pm on Wednesday.
Mr Spencer said: "The crews gave oxygen therapy and applied a burns sheet until paramedics arrived not long after.
"The fire is not being treated as suspicious."
A neighbour in Rutland Place said: "It was horrible.
"Another neighbour had knocked our door thinking our flat was on fire.
"There was smoke all through the flats so we shut ourselves in then the fire brigade came to check us all over.
"We don't know what caused the fire."
The neighbour said she believed the injured woman had moved into the flat with her boyfriend about a year ago but had recently been living alone.
Yesterday (Thur) smoke-blacked bedding lay on the lawn in front of the flat after being moved there by the fire brigade.
An ambulance, a paramedic area support officer and a trauma doctor attended the scene of the fire.
West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman Claire Brown said: "On arrival crews found a woman who had suffered approximately 80 per cent burns to her body in the fire.
"Crews administered pain relief and began applying cooling burns dressings to her extensive wounds.
"Given the serious nature of the woman's injuries, the doctor quickly took the decision to anaesthetise her at the scene to stabilise her condition.
"The woman was then taken by land ambulance on blue lights to Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, the region's specialist burns unit, for further emergency treatment.
"The doctor travelled in the ambulance to hospital to continue vital pre hospital care en route. Medics were pre alerted to the arrival of the woman who, at the time of transfer, was said to be in a critical condition."
