Residents flee suspected arson attack

nlnews@archant.co.uk
08 February 2010

FOURTEEN people had to be rescued from their toxic fume-filled flats when their main stairwell was set alight in a suspected arson attack.

Another eight people fled the three-storey building in Green Lanes, Harringay, by leaping over the blazing stairs minutes after the fire started at about 10.50pm on Saturday.

Terrified residents from the four flats were squeezing out of first and second floor windows at the front and back of the building gasping for air and seconds away from jumping when firefighters arrived to carry them down. Others had escaped to the roof.

Seven adults and one child, who had been choking on the fumes, were treated at the scene for smoke inhalation. Five of them, including the child, were taken to North Middlesex Hospital while the remaining three were taken to The Whittington Hospital.

It is thought arsonists piled up dumped mattresses or other combustible materials at the bottom of the stairs and set them alight.

Ambulance crews arrived with a hazardous response team in case the fire sparked an explosion.

Police sealed off Green Lanes, between Ducketts Common and Allison Road, while firefighters tackled the blaze.

A police spokeswoman said: "The circumstances surrounding the fire are being investigated and police retain an open mind re the cause. Until the cause of the fire can be ascertained it is being treated as suspicious."

Anyone with information is asked to call detective constable Tim Glover of Haringey CID on 020 8345 0712 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.