Woman critical after suspect fire in sheltered housing flat

The 63-year-old was among nine residents rescued by firefighters from Chantry Court, a council-run facility in Lawson Road, Bridlington, while 33 others were evacuated following the blaze early yesterday.

Police believe the fire was started deliberately and said they are confident they know who caused it.

A Humberside Police spokeswoman said: “It is being treated as an arson but police believe they know who is responsible.

“The injured woman is 63 years old and she is currently said to be critical but stable at Hull Royal Infirmary.”

The blaze caused extensive fire and smoke damage to the ground-floor flat where it is thought to have started, while 14 others were slightly damaged by smoke.

The facility, which largely caters for elderly and vulnerable residents, is run by East Riding Council and the authority said it managed to find alternative accommodation for “a couple” of residents who were unable to return to their homes.

The council said in a statement: “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.”

Almost 30 firefighters and six fire engines from Bridlington, Driffield and Hull attended the incident after being alerted at 5.24am.

Those who took part in the rescue – along with wardens – have been praised for working in difficult conditions, sometimes with zero visibility.

Andy Smallwood, station manager at Humberside Fire and Rescue Service, who was at the scene, said: “The fire crews that attended this incident did a fantastic job in difficult conditions and worked well with our partners from the police and ambulance service. I’d also like to praise the wardens at the premises who provided timely information which assisted the crews at the scene.”

Police and specialist fire investigators have launched a joint inquiry to try to establish how the blaze started.

A brigade spokeswoman added: “It is believed that the building’s structure, particularly the fire doors, assisted in restricting the fire from spreading. The cause of the fire is unknown at this time and an investigation is currently under way.”