Fire brigade is called after lit fireworks are put through letter box at block of flats

FIVE people were rescued from a tower block fire after fireworks were pushed through the letter box.

Firefighters escorted the five people from their 13th floor flat in the Todds Nook tower block on Westgate Road , Elswick, Newcastle.

Emergency services were called just after 11.20pm on Monday after lit fireworks were pushed through the letter box and caused damage to the door, and smoke damage to the flat.

The five people were assessed by paramedics on the scene and police are now treating the fire as arson.

A Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “At 11.22pm, we received reports of an incident at a high-rise block of flats in Elswick. Crews from Byker and Newcastle Central attended, as well as an aerial ladder platform from Marley Park.

“Firefighters led five people from the property and into the care of paramedics. The property suffered minimal smoke damage.

“The The incident was concluded by 11.50pm. We are now supporting Northumbria Police with their investigations.” A Northumbria Police spokesperson said: “We can confirm we are investigating a report that fireworks had been posted through a letter box of a flat at Todds Nook and set alight.

“The incident caused some damage to the letter box and door but thankfully nobody was seriously injured. “Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service escorted the five occupants of the address from the property but nobody required any treatment in hospital.

“Inquiries into the incident are ongoing but this is being treated as arson at this time. “Anyone with information about the person responsible, or who saw anyone acting suspiciously at the flats on Monday night, is asked to contact us via our website, or by calling 101, quoting log 1154 22/12/20.”

Police officers remained at the scene yesterday afternoon as the investigation continued.

A spokesperson for the North East Ambulance Service said: “We were called to the Westgate Road area at 11.23pm last night to reports of a building fire.

“We dispatched four crews from our Hazardous Area Response Team, a double-crewed ambulance and an officer.

“We We assessed and discharged five patients on scene.”

Firefighters led five people from the property and into the care of paramedics

Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service