Four led to safety from Blackburn flats fire

9:14am Thursday 24th April 2008

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FOUR people had to be rescued after a serious fire broke started in the stairwell of their flats early today.

Firefighters were originally called to a shed fire in Oakenhurst Road, Blackburn at 1.40am, but as they got closer, they saw heavy plumes of smoke rising from the stairwell area of a block of flats.

They discovered a waste bin on fire, and the flames had begun to spread.

Firefighters used hose reel jets and ventilation units to get the fire and smoke under control, and they asked the residents to move to a room in their flats furthest away from the fire.

Watch Manager Steve Harrison said: "We didn't want to use the ladders to get people out of windows, so we asked them to move the furthest away while we tackled the fire.

"Then we went in and led them out to safety."

Among those rescued was a mother in her 30s and her two young children. They were taken to the Royal Blackburn Hospital for slight smoke inhalation.

Firefighters believe that the fire was probably started deliberately.

Mr Harrison added: "It was a serious fire that could have been much worse because there was a gas canister nearby.

"Whoever has done this has put a situation in place that was very dangerous for the residents and firefighters."