Emergency crews tackled a large building fire in Stevenage last night, with one man taken to hospital with suspected smoke inhalation.
The fire, in Round Mead in the Poplars area of Stevenage, happened shortly after midnight – with several neighbours evacuated as a precaution. Some people escaped the fire unaided.
The blaze started in a flat in a two-storey building, with emergency crews called at about 12.15am. Six fire engines were at the scene, and firefighters used breathing apparatus as they fought the blaze.
A Herts police spokewoman said at 1.25am: “The fire is isolated to one property. However, a number of nearby residents have been evacuated as a safety precaution.
“One man has been taken to hospital with suspected smoke inhalation, but no-one is thought to have been seriously injured.”
Firefighters had the fire out by 2.40am, and stayed at the scene for a while afterwards for damping down and salvage. Fire and rescue personnel came to the scene from Stevenage, Hitchin, Baldock & Letchworth, Welwyn, Welwyn Garden City, Ware and Hertford stations, as well as relief crews.
The fire has been deemed accidental. The Comet is awaiting further updates from the emergency services.
It was a busy night for the fire service. In a single half-hour stretch from 7.40pm to 8.10pm, firefighters tackled a grass verge fire near Lytton Way in Stevenage, a suspected arson in the town’s Wellfield Wood, and another deliberate fire in woods off Walsworth Road in Hitchin.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here