Man knew what to do after smoke alarm activated in early hours after Cleveland Fire Brigade home safety visit just weeks before
View gallery Gallery: Arson attack at Wembley Way in Oxbridge
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An investigation is under way into a suspected arson attack after the front door of a home was “maliciously” set on fire.
Firefighters tackled a blaze at a flat on Wembley Way, Oxbridge, Stockton, in the early hours of yesterday morning.
A man living in the property escaped the blaze unscathed - and knew what to do thanks to a home fire safety visit from Cleveland Fire Brigade just weeks ago.
Fire crews from Stockton and Thornaby attended the blaze just before 2.15am after receiving a call from the occupant who was alerted by a smoke alarm.
Stephen Graham, crew manager at Stockton Fire Station, said: “Someone had maliciously set fire to his front door.
“The man inside self-rescued - he escaped via a rear door in his flat.
“He had only just had a home fire safety visit.
“It was the smoke alarms which alerted him to the fire and he followed his emergency action plan which we had given him during the visit just weeks before.”
As a result of the fire, there was heat and smoke damage to the front door and smoke damage inside the property.
The fire brigade and Cleveland Police will now be investigating the blaze.
At the scene today, the area around the flat was cordoned off while officers carried out their inquiries.
A Cleveland Police spokeswoman confirmed they were treating the incident as arson.
“There will now be a joint investigation,” she said.
Cleveland Fire Brigade carry out free home fire safety visits to give prevention advice and help put together planning escape routes if a fire does occur.
Where necessary the brigade will also provide and fit smoke alarms. Call 01429 874063 to book.
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