A GROUP of residents say they had a lucky escape after fire swept through their sheltered accommodation.
Two men were taken to hospital suffering from the effects of smoke after the fire broke out at Warwick House, in Hilda Street, Grimsby.
A flat was gutted and others were damaged by smoke and water when flames spread at 8pm on Thursday, as residents in the two-storey block of 29 were preparing for bed.
Alarms sounded, but a number of the occupants are elderly and hard of hearing, and some, wearing pyjamas, had to be led to safety by firefighters
One of the rescued men was revived using oxygen therapy. The other received first aid before paramedics arrived.
Both were taken to the Diana, Princess Of Wales Hospital by paramedics, where one remained for treatment for the effects of smoke inhalation.
Humberside Fire And Rescue Service said the cause of the fire was still being investigated.
Kathy Pendregaust, 60, has lived at Warwick House for only two weeks, and resides in the flat below where the fire started.
"I could hear an alarm and there was a terrible smell of burning rubber," she said.
"I was one of the first ones out. There is nothing left in the flat above apart from the iron frame of the bed."
Neighbour Steve Sharp, 65, pictured left, a retired train driver, said: "It could have been a lot worse. I am hard of hearing so I didn't realise what was going on until I opened the door and there was a fireman.
"It was a lucky escape. There is no way any of us could have got out of the windows."
Albert Welsh, 74, added: "I was the last one out; I was asleep until someone knocked on the door."
And Michael Rumsby, 72, said: "I could not get out of the building the usual way because the smoke was so bad. All the alarms went off so I went the other way."
Fire service incident commander Martin Peers said: "If there had not been a working smoke detector system, I am in no doubt this incident could have been a lot more serious. The crews professional and fast actions stopped the fire from developing any further."
The block is run by Shoreline Housing. Chief executive Tony Bramley said: "We immediately responded, quickly attending the scene to ensure the health and well-being of our tenants and providing hotel accommodation for a number of residents.
"Those residents have now returned to their homes, emergency work has been organised and future repairs are being assessed by our repairs supervisors."
