Firefighters rescue man from flat fire in Shrewsbury

A man was rescued by firefighters and taken to hospital following a fire at a flat in Shrewsbury.

Firefighters were called to the fire involving a second floor flat at Consort House in Albert Street, Castlefields, at 12.39am on Tuesday.

Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service sent three fire appliances from Baschurch, Shrewsbury and Wellington.

Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used four hose reel jets to extinguish the fire.

Following a fire investigation, it is believed the incident was caused by tea light candles which had set fire to nearby curtains.

Fire Investigation Officer Mark Weaver said: “This is a stark reminder to the public to be careful when using candles.

“In this instance, the occupier was using the candles for a Halloween pumpkin. Please if you’re celebrating Halloween make sure your candles are in proper candle holders and kept away from flammable materials such as curtains or other decorations.”

Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service are also urging motorists to park with emergencies in mind following difficulties getting to the fire and a challenge to get fire appliances close enough to the building.

Mark Weaver said: “The crews found it incredibly difficult to get to the building due to the parking on the roadside. One firefighter had to go through the window wearing his breathing apparatus to get out of the appliance and rescue the man from the property.

“This kind of parking can cause delays at a time when every second counts and we urge to public to park considerately. We understand that you want to park outside your home and that it can sometimes be a nuisance to park further away but for us every minute wasted could be essential for the person we are trying to help.”