Two men had to be taken to hospital for treatment for the effects of smoke inhalation after they attempted to put out a fire in a house in Lea on Monday afternoon, March 11th.

The men tried to use fire extinguishers to put out the flames from an upstairs bedroom but the severe fire had to be brought under control by firefighters in breathing apparatus.

Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service (HWFRS) was called and two crews from Ross and one from Whitchurch attended. The firefighters had to use two hose reels and one covering jet.

The bedroom was completely destroyed in the fire and there were heavy black soot deposits on the first floor as well as intense heat damage throughout the property. The female owner of the property was too distressed to speak to the Gazette yesterday, Tuesday, March 12th.

Station Commander Martin Lown from HWFRS said: "A female occupant in the house heard the smoke alarm activate and went to investigate. Finding a well-developed fire in the bedroom, she took exactly the right actions, by calling 999 and getting out of the house.

"However, two males then entered the property and attempted to put out the fire with some fire extinguishers and they ended up needing medical treatment."

He urged people never to put themselves at risk by re-entering a burning building but instead, to wait for the emergency services.

He added: "This was a severe fire, made worse by some hairspray canisters in the bedroom which exploded, releasing highly flammable gas which added to the intensity of the fire.

"Fortunately the woman escaped unharmed because of an early alert from a working smoke alarm. However, the incident shows just how dangerous it is to go into a burning building and we'd urge people to take note of this, and never to take risk themselves."

The cause of the fire is being investigated.