Firefighters tackle blaze at Southampton flat

Residents in a building, in Upper Shaftesbury Avenue, Highfield, which has been converted into a number of apartments had to be evacuated from the building at about 4.50am.

Two fire engines from St Mary's Fire Station attended the fire on the ground floor, front bedsit and spent up to two using a new Ultra High Pressure Lance, which they have been trialling on behalf of the county, to tackle the blaze.

Marcin Werdenowski, who has lived in the room which was affected by the fire for two years, said: “I have lost everything. It is an old building.

“I went to work at ten past four this morning and left my friend sleeping and came to this. It is what it is.”

When asked what he was going to do now, Marcin said: “I am just going to carry on working, my girlfriend lives upstairs so I can stay with her, that is not a problem.”

Fire, smoke and heat damage was caused to the bedsit which has been left uninhabitable. Light smoke was also left throughout the communal areas.

A neighbour said: “There wasn’t a fire… It woke us up because of the flashing blue lights – it went on for two hours.

“It isn’t a big deal, don’t make it out to be anything but it is.

“It was a fire and that was it… It could have been worse.”

Crew Manager Edmiston said they believed it was started when items were left near an electric heater and caught fire.

He added the man who lived there had just returned from work and got into bed when he noticed the fire and tried to extinguish it.

"Everyone got out safely and no one was injured thanks to the alarm system that went off throughout the building," he said.

"The building had adequate smoke detectors the alarm was raised quickly and everyone was evacuated from the building in good time."

"We would just like to remind people of the safely aspects when operating electric heaters.

"Please ensure they are in good working order and also that nothing surrounding it can catch fire, also follow the instructions which are supplied with the unit.