Firefighter relives fatal blaze

Firefighter Steve Morris describes his injuries

A firefighter has described how he fell down a burning flight of stairs trying to save a family from a blaze at their home in Greater Manchester.

Steve Morris, of Chorley in Lancashire, suffered severe burns to his face, hands and back and a fractured elbow at the burning property in Bolton.

After nine months in hospital he is back home with dozens of skin grafts.

He said: "People keep calling me a hero - I am not. I just did what any other firefighter would have done."

The blaze, at Little Holme Walk in Great Lever in June 2008, killed Hameeda Begum, 71, and her granddaughter, four-year-old Alana Mian.

Everything has turned out alright because I am still here Steve Morris

Another family member was also treated in hospital along with three firefighters.

Mr Morris, 39, who climbed through a broken kitchen window in a bid to rescue the occupants, was burnt so badly his fellow crew members did not even recognise him.

"Me and two other firefighters, who were also wearing breathing apparatus, climbed up the stairs of the house.

"The smoke was so thick we had to feel our way through the house. I continued the search in the front bedroom and when I came out the landing was on fire.

Steve Morris' fingers had to be amputated because of the burns

"The heat was so intense I could feel it through my visor and I knew I had to get out.

"My tunic and my gloves were on fire and I decided to run down the stairs - but couldn't - I fell head over heels and fractured my elbow."

He managed to break down the front door and escape out of the house, and one of the local residents used a hosepipe to try to douse the flames.

He said: "I had to have had some of my fingers amputated and I'm still trying to get my way back to fitness but I do try and look on the bright side of things.

"Everything has turned out alright because I am still here."

Mr Morris, who was given a Recipient of Courage accolade for his bravery, is determined to return to the fire service as soon as he has fully recovered.