Elderly flee fire at flats in West Bromwich

Twenty-five firefighters tackled flames at a historic estate in South Staffordshire, while elderly residents were led to safety from smoke-filled sheltered accommodation in two separate blazes over the weekend.

Flames took hold in Aviary Court, West Bromwich, after a mattress set alight. When firefighters arrived they found a number of residents in the smoke-filled hallways struggling to get out. Crews helped 18 first- floor residents downstairs amid fears the flames could spread.

However, the fire was contained to one flat, which was badly damaged. Some of the communal areas were also smoke-logged.

Crews said the fire was caused by a "confused" resident using a cigarette lighter.

The alarm was raised just before 6pm on Saturday and at one point more than 20 firefighters were at the Wiltshire Way site, which is run by Midland Heart.

Residents that were evacuated were treated at the scene and one elderly woman was taken to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation. The fire was out by 7.10pm.

Meanwhile flames tore through the roof of a house next to Patshull Hall near Pattingham. At its height, about 25 firefighters from four different stations were tackling the blaze only 100 metres away from the Georgian mansion. Firefighter Mark Billingham, from Tettenhall Fire Station, was at the scene and said that the blaze, which started on Saturday at 5.15pm, had been in the roof space on the first floor of the building. He said: "The fire went through the roof so firefighters had to strip off slates to tackle it. No-one was injured."

Firefighters had left the scene by 9.30pm.

Philip Marsh, handyman at Patshull Hall, said the people living at the home were a middle-aged couple. He said they were put up in the hall itself overnight on Saturday.

Also on Saturday night, arsonists set fire to three cars at a mechanics yard in Wednesbury. The cars were parked outside JR Engineering in Perry Street.

Wardens and support staff – who monitor the properties around the clock – were already at the scene by the time firefighters arrived.