A FIRE broke out in a Southampton block of flats after a glass ornament on a windowsill focused sunlight and caused curtains to burst into flames, firefighters say.

Crews from St Mary’s and Hightown were called to Keynsham Road, Bitterne, at 9.59am yesterday morning.

The occupant of the flat was out at the time.

One person was treated for smoke inhalation at the scene but there were no other injuries.

Residents from the side of the block where the fire took place were evacuated while those at the other end of the building were told to stay inside.

Four pumps were used to extinguish the blaze and the stop message came in at 10.52am.

A resident said: “I got up to have a cigarette on the balcony and I saw lots of smoke coming out of the windows. I phoned 999 and banged on every door to get my neighbours out.”

Shalina Wyatt, a 40-year-old housewife, said: “I was in asleep in bed and I got a knock on the door saying there was a fire. It was on the other side of the block, which was affected.”

Peter Welborn, a 65-year-old retired marine electric engineer, said: “I was in the bathroom and then I came out and saw the firemen, who were running in very fast with their hoses and that was when I was told to get inside my building. I was very concerned as I could smell smoke.”

He added: “I have been living here for about 13 years and I have never known a fire to happen before.”

Joyce Wrigley, a 78-year-old retired carer, said: “We were just ready to go out bowling and four men had to break a window to get down to the floor below to the fire. We all had to go out onto the pavement.”

Terry Wrigley, a 75-year-old retired plumber, said: “There were people who had hospital appointments and nobody could get out.”

A spokesperson from South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust said: “We sent our hazardous area response team and a paramedic team leader in a rapid response vehicle to the scene. There was only one patient who had suffered minor smoke inhalation and they were treated and discharged at the scene.”

However firefighters did rescue two of the resident’s guinea pigs which were in a cage. The woman was reunited with her pets when she arrived after the incident.