Six children and eight adults rescued after ‘arson attack’ on 11th floor of tower block

A tower blaze that left one person in hospital and forced 14 to be evacuated is thought to have been started deliberately.

Six children and eight adults were rescued after a fire broke out on the 11th floor of a block of flats in Birmingham.

Residents shouted for help from a balcony after flames from a stairwell started spreading.

Around 50 firefighters, alongside paramedics and police, raced to the scene at James House in the Newton area following 999 calls at 5.40pm.

West Midlands Fire Service (WMFS) confirmed to Metro.co.uk the cause of the blaze was being treated as suspected arson.

According to BirminghamLive, a ‘pushchair and other items’ were deliberately set alight in the stairwell.

WMFS said the fire did not spread to any of the flats in the building, but smoke entered some homes on floors 10-12 when residents opened their doors.

Some residents self-evacuated while others, including six children, had to be led to safety as crews ‘quickly’ extinguished the blaze.

They were treated for smoke inhalation at the scene, while one adult was taken to hospital as a precautionary measure.

A statement said: ‘The fire did not spread to any of the flats in the building, however smoke entered some flats on floors 10-12 when residents opened their doors.

‘Crews wearing breathing apparatus used Smoke Hoods, which enable safer and swifter evacuation, to evacuate 10 residents through the smoked filled areas.

‘In total 14 residents, including 6 children were led to safety. They were treated for smoke inhalation on scene alongside a few residents who self-evacuated.’

WMFS said 15 people have been placed in temporary accommodation.

‘We worked closely on scene with colleagues from West Midlands Police and West Midlands Ambulance Service. The cause of the fire is suspected arson,’ they said.

Police added that they are also working closely with colleagues as the investigation gets underway.

A statement said: ‘Officers were sent to help with scene management and road closures so that fire and ambulance services could more easily access the property.

‘Several people have been treated for smoke inhalation but it is not believed, at this stage, there have been any serious injuries.

‘We’re currently on site alongside other emergency services and work has already started alongside fire investigators to understand how the fire started.’

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