Two other men had to be led to safety through thick smoke after the fire started in the foyer trapping them inside their homes.


The early morning incident saw one man trapped in his first floor flat, in Holyrood Walk, Hartlepool, as thick smoke and heat hemmed him in.

Police and fire crews are now investigating how the blaze started.

Police, ambulance and fire crews rushed to the scene at around 5.15am on Sunday.

The stranded man, in his 50s, was rescued by firefighters through the upstairs window using a ladder.

Watch manager Kevin Harrison said: "His smoke alarm was going off and he obviously tried to get out the flat but was unable to get out because of the heat and smoke. When we got there he was at the front window.

"The fire damage itself was quite light. There was smoke damage to the communal area and flats."

Meanwhile ground floor resident Philip Mahony was asleep and unaware that the fire blazed just feet from his front door.

The 32-year-old said: "I was in bed. The first I knew was the firemen. I was still asleep and the firemen banged on the window.

"I came out and the corridor was full of smoke.

"It put my life in danger. At the end of the day I could have suffocated with the fumes off the floor."

Another man, called Paul and also in his 50s, was helped out of the building by fire crews, but none of the men were harmed.

Three engines, from Hartlepool's Stranton and Headland fire stations, were at the scene staying for an hour and will be investigating the cause of the fire.

Unemployed Mr Mahony, who had gone to bed at 10pm, said he believes the fire was deliberate and said the back door to the communal area had been left open.

He added: "It's quiet round here. It was a shock. My alarm did not go off. I would understand if they went in the cupboard and pinched bikes, but why start a fire?"