Aerosol explodes causing flat fire

An aerosol exploded at an elderly woman's Black Country home, starting a blaze which severely damaged the flat.

Firefighters said the pensioner had to be treated for smoke inhalation after the fire, which was caused by a canister that had been left too close to a storage heater at her home in Austen Walk, West Bromwich.

She had raised the alarm after hearing a loud bang that sent plumes of smoke billowing through the ground-floor flat of the two-storey building at around 8.30am yesterday.

Firefighters from West Bromwich, Smethwick, Wednesbury and Tipton battled the flames and bought the blaze under control within 10 minutes.

They said minor damage was caused to one flat next door, but that all of the neighbouring properties had been empty at the time.

The elderly woman was given oxygen at the scene, before being taken to hospital. Matt Rhoden, at West Bromwich Fire Station, said the woman was led away from her home upon their arrival.

"I think she was a bit shocked, because it's not the sort of thing you're expecting on a Sunday morning."

He added structural experts had been at the home to make sure the building was safe.