FIREFIGHTERS who were called to fires at the same house in Duke Street, Burnley Wood, three times in four days are warning someone could be seriously injured.

In the first incident, at 5.15pm last Thursday, a firefighter suffered heat stroke.

He had to be taken to hospital by paramedics until his oxygen and blood levels stabilised.

Since then crews have been called to a further two fires at the same house, in a block of terraced houses which are boarded up and due for demolition.

Station Officer Steve Cope said: "The house where the fires have been started had not been securely boarded up and someone had got access from a kitchen extension to the upstairs bedroom where the first fire was lit.

"Someone has also gained access along the pitched roof through to all of the other ten houses in the row, I assume to search the properties to see if anything is worth stealing.

"Although they have been boarded up ready for demolition, they are fully furnished. There is nothing of any value, but it does provide fuel for a fire.

"I would appeal to parents to make sure they know where their children are and what they are doing.

"I would appeal for children not to be so stupid. We will have a tragedy on our hands, if it is not us then it could be a child."

In the first incident six firefighters using breathing equipment searched the remainder of the houses to check whether anyone was trapped inside.

Firefighters were called out to the same house at 8pm that night when a fire had been started in another room and again at 6.47pm yesterday when the front bedroom was set on fire. Each time fire crews had to use breathing equipment to search the whole of the block in case someone was trapped inside.