Three treated for smoke inhalation following fire in Shrewsbury

The occupant of one of the flats in the four storey building was led to safety from his smoke-filled home by a neighbour.

The alarm was raised just before 1am after the fire, caused by a deep fat fryer at the four storey property on Smithfield Road.

Fire crews from nearby Shrewsbury fire station were alerted by the ambulance service.

Three crews were quickly on the scene and found that the fire was out but that the house was full of smoke.

Watch manager, Paul Gray said: "A neighbour in one of the flats raised the alarm. He went into the smoke-filled flat and led the occupant to safety.

"He also managed to disconnect the fuel supply and smother the flames in the deep fat fryer. He acted very promptly."

Mr Gray said neighbours who went to help, along with the occupier of the flat were treated at the scene by paramedics from West Midlands Ambulance. They did not need to go to hospital.

Firefighters used special equipment to clear the smoke from the house.

Mr Gray said that electrical appliances should never be left on and unattended.

"Most kitchen fires occur when people are distracted or leave things unattended," he said.