Fire traps three people on balconies of Minehead flats

FIRE crews mounted a major operation in Minehead to rescue three people trapped on the upper floors of a block of flats which caught fire in the early hours of Tuesday, July 24.
The residents were unable to escape from the property in The Parks, which comprised seven flats, after the blaze broke out in the ground floor rear area of the building.
They became trapped on balconies and were eventually led to safety down a 135-feet high ladder raised by fire crews.
Others did manage to flee the building and they raised the alarm by calling the emergency services, who responded by sending firefighters from four stations in Minehead, Porlock, Williton, and Taunton, a command support unit from Wiveliscombe, and an incident support unit from Taunton, as well as a number of ambulances.
The incident started at about 2 am on Tuesday, and two firemen wearing breathing apparatus entered the building to put out the blaze using a hose reel jet.
An investigation was started later in the day to decide on the cause of the fire.
Photo submitted.

Woman in custody for alleged arson in Watchet house

A WATCHET woman has been arrested on suspicion of arson following a fire at a house in the town on the night of Wednesday, May 16.
Firemen wearing breathing apparatus had to rescue a woman trapped by the blaze in the terraced house in South Road after being alerted at about 10.20 pm.
They were called to the property after neighbours were alerted by the sound of a smoke alarm.
The kitchen of the house was ablaze and smoke was billowing from the first floor of the property, where a woman was found to be still inside one of the bedrooms.
She was rescued but not found to have suffered any injuries.
The firefighters used four sets of breathing apparatus and two hose reel jets to put out the fire and ventilate the property. The incident was brought under control within about half-an-hour.
Later, police took a 28-year-old woman into custody at Taunton Police Station to be held on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life.
Three fire engines attended the incident, two from Williton and one from Minehead, plus a command support vehicle from Wiveliscombe.
Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said there was fire damage to the kitchen and the dining room floor, with 20 per cent smoke damage to the remainder of the building.