Toddler suffers burns in house blaze

A TODDLER was taken to hospital after suffering burns to his leg when a fire broke out in a bedroom of his family home.

The boy, believed to be aged three or four, was taken to the West Suffolk Hospital, Bury St Edmunds, by ambulance after a fire broke out on the first floor of his home at Kelso Place in Lawshall.

Although the youngster suffered what is described a nasty burn to his leg, his injuries were not believed to be life-threatening.

Fire crews were from Bury St Edmunds and Long Melford were called the to fire just after 9am on Saturday morning.

When they received the call they were informed of a fire in a bedroom.

On their arrival the crews found the fire had been extinguished by a neighbour who had gone into the home to tackle the blaze and managed to prevent it from spreading.

Although the fire was contained to the bedroom it did cause substantial damage. Many burned items of furniture and other belongings were strewn across the front garden of the property early on Saturday morning.

It is believed the flames caught the toddler's trousers and burned his leg. The quick thinking of the child's family and friends prevented his injuries from being worse by placing him in a cold bath until paramedics arrived.

The boy was taken with his mother to the hospital where his burns were treated.

The cause of the fire has not yet been clarified, but it is not being treated as suspicious.

Assitant Divisional Officer Graham Crouch, based at Bury St Edmunds, said: "We are not sure what caused the fire at the moment, but the toddler, who is aged three or four, did have burns to his upper leg, which was obviously very painful for the lad.

"We were called to a small fire in a bedroom, but when we arrived it had been extinguished by a neighbour. We stayed on the scene and assisted removing items from the property."

Family and friends who where at the house on Saturday morning declined to comment on the incident.