Three rescued as house goes up in flames

Aug 27 2007 By Anna Jeys, Birmingham Mail

THREE men were rescued by firefighters when a three-storey house became engulfed in flames.

Crews were called the house in Heathfield Road, Handworth, shortly before 6.40am on Saturday.

Five fire engines were sent out to the semi-detached house, which had been converted into flats.

Two men were rescued from the third floor window using a ladder whilst another man was led to safety.

Crews from Aston, Handsworth, Bournbrook, Ladywood and Smethwick attended the fire, which started in a first floor bedroom.

A spokesman for West Midlands Ambulance said five people had to be treated for smoke inhalation and other minor injuries.

Three people were taken to City Hospital for treatment and two others were treated by paramedics at the scene.

Station commander Mark Lawton, of West Midlands Fire Service, said: "The fire crews were confronted with a severe fire in the first floor bedroom."

He added that fire investigators were on site to try to establish the cause of the blaze.

A spokesman for West Midlands Ambulance Service said: "On arrival at the scene ambulance crews found five people who had minor injuries.

"All five patients were treated at the scene for minor injuries, mainly smoke inhalation."