'The whole family must be devastated' - girl, 11, left with ‘life changing’ injuries after dress catches fire

The accident is believed to have happened as the girl was playing close to a gas fire at her relative’s house in Castle Street, Brierfield.

The youngster was airlifted to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool for treatment after being taken to nearby Heyhead Park in a land ambulance.

Last night police said she was being cared for in the intensive care unit and described her condition as ‘serious but stable’.

An investigation has been launched into how the incident happened but officers said it is not being treated as suspicious.

The incident has led to renewed safety calls by fire chiefs as it echoes a similar accident in Barrowford which led to the death of a pensioner.

An inquest last week heard how 76-year-old Said Begum died after her scarf caught fire when she was attempting to warm herself next to an open fire on January 15.

A fire service spokesman said: “When you hear about something like this it is just so shocking.

“It is a long-standing issue and it is even more distressing when it happens just a week after the warnings were issued in the wake of Said Begum’s inquest.

“We certainly reinforce the fire safety message and the importance of staying away from power sources and fires.”

Cllr Mohammed Iqbal, Pendle Council leader, said: “Asian clothing is quite flammable.

“I would urge parents and children to be very careful when they are stood near gas fires because clothing catches fire very quickly.

“I wish this girl all the best in her recovery.

“The whole family must be devastated.”

Neighbours said they were shocked by the incident which happened at around 4pm on Monday.

One said: “I was driving back from hospital with my wife and saw some police cars.

“The ambulance took the girl to Heyhead Park where she was put in the helicopter.

“From what I have been told she was playing at her auntie’s house when somehow her clothes caught fire.

“She’s badly burned from her neck down.

“The family have lived here for around 15 years.

“They’re a nice family and everyone knows them. Everyone is praying for them.”

Another neighbour said: “I saw police cars at the end of the street.

“It is a tragic situation for such a young girl.

“It is so easy if you are stood so close to a fire for it to catch your dress.

“My thoughts are with the girl.”

Brierfield Councillor Naeem Hussain Ashraf said: “It’s a tragic thing to happen to a girl so young.”

The youngster’s family are said to be at her hospital bedside.

A police spokesman said: “We were contacted shortly after 4pm on Monday, April 18, by the ambulance service to a report that an 11-year-old girl had suffered burns at an address in Castle Street, Brierfield.

“The girl was taken by air ambulance to Alder Hey hospital in Liverpool suffering from burns described as life changing.

“She has undergone surgery and remains in a stable condition in the intensive care unit.

“An investigation into the circumstances is underway but at this stage it would appear that the girl’s dress had been ignited by flames from a gas fire inside the address.”