Brave Edward is flats fire hero

The fire started after someone set light to a pushchair in the stairwell at the flats in Highfields, Wick, just after 1am.

Sitting in his home across the road from the flats, Edward 23, heard the fire alarm sounding and looked out of the window to see smoke billowing from the building.

"There were women outside screaming and loads of thick, black smoke. I ran downstairs and across the road to help," he said.

"The pushchair had dripped melted burning plastic all over a mat, which was on fire at the bottom of the stairs, so I dragged it outside into the car park.

"A lady from a nearby flat was outside with a fire extinguisher and she put the fire out."

Five residents were taken to Worthing Hospital for precautionary tests after they had inhaled smoke and two other women were treated by paramedics at the scene. All are thought to be fine and no-one was injured in the incident.

As soon as the fire was out, Edward went back into the building and up to the top floor to check if anyone was there, opening windows on the way to let the smoke out.

He was congratulated by the police and residents of the flats for his bravery and prompt action.

Fire crews from Littlehampton, Arundel, East Preston and Worthing were called to the fire but when the Littlehampton crew, who were first on the scene, found the fire extinguished, they called to cancel the other engines.

Littlehampton fire commander Trevor Worsfold said: "A lot of people could have lost their lives if the fire had taken hold.

"The people on the first and second floors couldn't have got out because the stairway was filled with smoke. They would have to have been rescued from their balconies.

"Fortunately, the building had a working fire alarm which alerted residents and neighbours to the fire quickly.

He added: "This was arson and that carries a serious penalty."

Anyone with information about the fire should call police on 0845 60 70 999.