WISBECH: Family rescued after blaze breaks out in derelict flat beneath their home

TWO children and their parents were rescued by fire fighters in the early hours of today after a blaze broke out in a derelict flat beneath them. Fire crews were called at 3.42am to Weston Miller Drive, Wisbech, after a passer by saw smoke coming from a g

TWO children and their parents were rescued by fire fighters in the early hours of today after a blaze broke out in a derelict flat beneath them.

Fire crews were called at 3.42am to Weston Miller Drive, Wisbech, after a passer by saw smoke coming from a ground floor flat and dialled 999.

Fire-fighters arrived to find the flat well alight and heavily smoke logged.

They had been told that a family was in the flat above and they tried to rouse them by knocking on the door.

"When this didn't work they put a ladder up to the balcony and knocked on the window and alerted them to the fire below," said a fire service spokesman.

Two children were lifted down to safety by fire-fighters and two adults made their way down the ladder by themselves. All were unharmed.

Crews entered the ground floor flat wearing breathing apparatus and extinguished the flames using one hose reel.

They returned to base by 5.55am.

The cause of the fire is believed to be deliberate.

A fire investigation officer together with scenes of crime officers will be at the flat this morning.