Six people rescued from fire

Crews were called out to Garside Street at around 11.45pm after a fire started in a wheelie bin . It is thought the contents of the bin were set on fire and the bin pushed against the communal door of the flats.

Green watch manager Ian Cooper said the flat occupants were ‘extremely distressed’ when crews arrived on the scene. “People were standing at the windows and shouting for help. They were very distressed and panicking about not being able to get out,” he said.

Fire crews battled through the smoke-logged stairwell to rescue four people and a dog from the upstairs flats and two people from downstairs. Paramedics assessed the occupants and gave two people oxygen for smoke inhalation.

Fire crews then ventilated the property while police placed a cordon at the scene to carry out further investigations. Said Mr Cooper: “We still don’t know whether the cause of the fire was accidental or deliberate and will be carrying out further investigations.”

“Fortunately the block of flats was in a good state, but had there been any rubbish in the stairwell it could have been a different story.”

Mr Cooper said the incident was a timely reminder to dispose of rubbish safely in wheelie bins. “People must make sure that any materials are fully extinguished before putting them in the bin,” he said. A 22-year-old local man has been arrested and bailed in connection with the incident, but police are still appealing to anyone who saw any suspicious activity in the area to call them.

If you have any information contact Notts Police on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.