Four in hospital after suspected West Bromwich flats arson
[gallery] Four people were taken to hospital and a fifth treated at the scene of a fire in a block of flats - caused by a suspected arsonist setting light to the plastic casing of a fire extinguisher.
Firefighters were called to the high-rise Camberley block in West Bromwich at 8.35pm last night. When they arrived, they found smoke was filling the fourth floor.
A group of eight firefighters wearing breathing apparatus rushed up to the fire, finding a mother and two young children in one flat suffering from smoke inhalation and they were led to safety.
Many residents had evacuated themselves after the acrid fumes filled the landing of the fourth floor - which it later emerged was caused by the plastic casing for the fire extinguisher on that floor.
Police are now investigating what sparked the blaze, on Beacon View Road. Spokeswoman Deb Edmonds: "It is is being investigated as a suspected arson."
It was not necessary to evacuate the whole building.
Firefighter Matthew Young, who was part of the West Bromwich crew that battled the blaze, said: "All of the casualities were treated for smoke inhalation.
"Most of the people had rescued themselves. The whole floor was evacuated by fire service personnel and police though.
"The plastic container housing the fire extinguisher was the cause of the smoke. We left police at with crime scene investigators after we left the scene.
"We saw very heavy smoke logging which was worse because it was plastic that was on fire."
Fire crews used high-pressure ventilators to clear the fumes after the fire was extinguished, allowed residents to return to their homes by around 10.30pm.
Murray MacGregor, spokesman for West Midlands Ambulance Service, said two ambulances were initially sent to the scene.
He added: "On arrival the crews found a mother and two young children in one flat suffering from smoke inhalation.
"They were treated at the scene with oxygen before being taken to Sandwell Hospital as a precaution.
"A man from the floor above was also complaining of smoke inhalation and he too was taken to Sandwell Hospital.
"Just over an hour after the initial call, the emergency operations centre received a second call stating an elderly woman was complaining of breathing difficulties.
"A rapid response vehicle was sent and the paramedic assessed the patient. After taking observations, the woman chose not to go to hospital and was left with family."
