Warden aids fire rescue as 33 evacuated from sheltered housing complex

Published by Ross Macmillan for 24dash.com in Housing and also in Communities, Local Government

More than 30 people were evacuated from a sheltered housing complex in East Yorkshire yesterday after a flat fire.

Firefighters from Humberside Fire and Rescue Service rescued nine people from the complex in Bridlington with the help of a local warden who assisted firefighters in locating people still inside the building.

One woman is believed to have been seriously injured.

In total 33 were evacuated with four residents admitted to hospital with smoke inhalation.

It is believed that the building's structure, particularly the fire doors, assisted in restricting the fire from spreading. The flat where the fire started was badly damaged, however other rooms nearby suffered minor smoke damage.

The cause of the fire is unknown and an investigation is currently under way. 

A statement from East Riding of Yorkshire Council, which manages the complex, said: “We were made aware of a fire at one of the flats at the sheltered housing accommodation in Bridlington just after 5am on Monday 30 January.

“We understand there were three people taken to hospital for treatment and one resident was in a critical condition.

“Officers from the council’s adult care management team, along with officers from the housing team and wardens attended the scene to support residents who had been evacuated from their homes as a result of the fire.

“Our priority was to ensure residents were able to return to their flats as soon as it was safe to do so but a couple of residents had to be found alternative accommodation as their homes were slightly damaged.”