A WOMAN who collapsed after she was seen at the window of her blazing flat in a dawn fire drama was being treated for serious injuries at a hospital burns unit yesterday (Wednesday).

Edith Arnold, aged 47, of New Street, Leominster, was found unconscious and barely breathing on the living room floor after she fled her burning bedroom early on Tuesday.

Fire fighters wearing breathing apparatus resuscitated the blaze victim on the landing outside her front door before carrying her out of the building, Cursneh House, to ambulance paramedics.

Mrs Arnold, who is understood to have suffered in excess of 25 per cent burns and the effects of toxic fumes, was later said to be in a critical condition at the burns unit of Morriston Hospital, Swansea.

Yesterday (Wednesday), her condition was described as stable.

Cursneh House residents say the tragedy may have been worse if it was not for mains-operated fire alarms fitted recently by the landlord, the Marches Housing Association.

Pensioner Gladys Burrows was awoken in her ground floor flat by a fire alarm going off on the floor above. A 76-year-old man - who did not wish to be named - then went to investigate.

He said he was able to enter Mrs Arnold's home but was forced back by heat and smoke when he opened an inner door.

He and others phoned the fire service.

Construction worker Len Jones, in the flat above Mrs Arnold, was awoken by smoke wafting in through his bedroom window.

Mobile call

He woke his 18-year-old son Lloyd telling him to call 999 on his mobile, to gather up his valuables and flee.

Mr Jones, who was later taken to hospital suffering from the affects of smoke, went around the affected half of Cursneh House banging on front doors to raise the alarm.

Evacuated residents in their nightwear gathered at the roadside in New Street.

"Fortunately the fire brigade was very quick on the scene. Everyone was very anxious," said Mr Jones.

His next door neighbours William and Winifred McLay were not aware of the commotion until a fire fighter forced their door to evacuate them and smoke activated their fire alarm.

Mr McLay said it was a "scary" experience for residents but there was no panic as they left the building to gather outside.

"Everyone kept calm," he said.

A woman nearby who was unaffected by the blaze provided tea for some of the evacuated residents who needed refreshment.

Some people in Cursneh House, which consists of 12 flats in two sections, slept through the drama.

Homes adjoining the fire scene suffered various degrees of smoke pollution.

Officials from the Marches Housing Association were swiftly on the scene to assess damage. Bedroom windows were wrecked, the mattress was charred and many possessions were destroyed at the fire scene flat.

"We are liaising with our tenant's daughter while the lady is in hospital and will give every assistance we can," said a spokeswoman.

A Fire Service spokesman said yesterday an investigation into the cause of the blaze was being carried out but the circumstances were not thought to be suspicious.

Fire crews from Leominster, Leintwardine and Kingsland attended the incident.