An elderly man has died after suffering severe burns in a bedroom blaze at a Bradford care home.

Firemen wearing breathing apparatus rescued the unconscious 74-year-old from his smoke-filled room in the West Bank Care Home at Daisy Hill early yesterday.

The critically ill pensioner, whose identity has not yet been released, was taken to the burns unit at Wakefield's Pinderfields Hospital, where he died at 7.15pm.

Firefighters from Fairweather Green and Bradford also rescued another elderly man and a member of staff from West Bank on Crow Tree Lane - home to nine elderly residents - at 1am yesterday after staff raised the alarm and evacuated the building.

A spokesman for Fairweather Green Fire Station said: "A member of staff told us which room the fire was in and said there were two residents unaccounted for.

"One team went to the ground floor bedroom where the fire was and found someone on the bed and carried him outside - he wasn't conscious and was taken to hospital by waiting paramedics.

"A second team went to the first floor and found another elderly gentleman in his bedroom - he was okay and the room was relatively clear of smoke so they kept him there until it was safe to bring him out.

"We also found a member of staff up on the second floor who was still searching the premises and we escorted her to safety through the smoke.''

The member of staff rescued from the building was treated for smoke inhalation but was not detained in hospital.

Fire investigators and police are continuing their inquiries to determine the exact cause of the fire but it is not being treated as suspicious and is thought to have been accidentally sparked by a lighted cigarette.

The spokesman said: "It was probably smoking materials which caused the fire but the investigation is still going on.''

Inspector Paul Jeffrey, of Toller Lane police, said: "Inquiries are continuing with the fire service but at this stage we don't believe it to be suspicious.''

Evacuated residents from West Bank were taken to stay at another local care home on a temporary basis.

West Bank proprietor Mrs Jomeen said it was hoped they would be able to return over the next few days.

She said staff and residents were "very upset'', adding: "It's been a great shock to everyone. It's a terrible tragedy.''

A spokesman for West Yorkshire Police said the coroner would be informed and an inquest into the man's death opened in the next few days.

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