Arsonist believed to have caused Christmas Eve fire
FAMILIES’ FESTIVE PERIOD THROWN INTO DISARRAY BY OVERNIGHT BLAZE
A MUM was left trying to salvage Christmas with her family after being evacuated from her tower block in the early hours following a suspected arson attack.
Emergency services were called to a fire inside a flat in Redheugh Court, Gateshead after 3am on Christmas Eve.
Residents were evacuated while the fire was brought under control, including Susan McCullough, who lives on the floor underneath the flat.
Her son Matthew said: “She rang me at about 3.20am and was absolutely frantic.
“I rushed down from Cramlington and the scene was chaotic when I got there.
“When I finally found my mum in the sea of hundreds of people, she was so upset and told me there was a fire on floor seven or eight. It was freezing so I took my sister’s house for the night.” Matthew added: “The police were doing headcounts, but because some residents absconded from the scene, police and fire crews booted in almost every door on floor four and up, my mums included.
“She now has no lock, a constant breeze and the feeling of unease. “We are, however, very grateful for the fact she is still alive and well.” Susan, 47, returned to her flat at about 8am, and is trying to salvage her Christmas plans with her two children. Matthew said: “We are in a support bubble. Mum had her Christmas dinner all planned and a lovely Christmas Eve movie night for us all.
“We’re going to try to have as much of a Christmas as we can, but there is an uneasy feeling.
“I just feel awful for anybody who couldn’t get back into their flat for Christmas, but I’m so glad everyone was safe.”
“Why would anyone want to do this, especially over Christmas?”
■ Northumbria Police have since arrested a 38-year-old man on suspicion of arson.
The police did headcounts, because some people left the scene, nearly every door was booted in