Five people rescued and 12 evacuated after firefighters called to early morning blaze at Hartlepool flat

Firefighters were called to Tower Street at 5.22am on Tuesday, February 2, where they rescued two people with a ladder and led another three people to safety.

A further 12 people were able to evacuate the building themselves during the incident.

Four crews from Billingham, Hartlepool and Stockton used hose reel jets, breathing apparatus and a positive pressure ventilation fan to extinguish the blaze before leaving the scene at 7.12am.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

A Cleveland Fire Brigade spokeswoman said: “We were called to an incident at Tower Chambers, Tower Street, Hartlepool at 5.22am.

"Two people were rescued by crews via ladder, three people were led to safety and a further 12 people evacuated the building themselves.

“Fire engines attended from Hartlepool, Billingham and Stockton fire stations.

"We used two hose reel jets, six breathing apparatus and a positive pressure ventilation fan.

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