A WOMAN suffered burns and was left severely shaken after a log fell from an open fire in her home and set furniture alight.

She was treated for burns to her hands and arms after the blaze at St Alban’s Avenue, Charminster, Bournemouth, at around 9pm on Saturday.

Fire crews from Redhill Park and Springbourne were sent to the scene.

A spokesman for Dorset Fire and Rescue Service said the fire severely damaged a sofa, as well as leaving the house smoke-logged.

The woman, who was visibly upset yesterday morning, asked not to be named, but said she wanted to thank the fire brigade and the neighbours who helped.

Lillian Gibbs, who was on duty at a nearby rest home, was one person who came to her aid at the scene.

She told the Daily Echo: “I was just letting the night girl out and saw the fire engines there, all the lights were going.

“The smoke was coming out from both sides of the house. I went out to see if I could help. The man across the road was there as well.

“There was a woman very distraught sitting on the pavement, the firemen had got her out.

“I went over to see if I could help with cups of tea and so on.

“She had burns right down her arms. The reason I went over is because she has little children, but they were away and I think she was on her own.

“She was very distraught; it took a lot to calm her down.”

Lillian said an ambulance took the woman away at about 11.30pm.

“All the lights had to be turned off and they had spotlights. The neighbours all came out and helped,” she added.