Fire crews from Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service were called to a fire this morning in Anderson St, South Shields.
The fire resulted in approximately 15 people being trapped in their homes on the first and second floors of a block of maisonettes.
Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service's Control Room received a call about the fire at 07:13 this morning. Five fire appliances attended the incident; two from South Tyneside West Community Fire Station in Hebburn, one from South Tyneside East Community Fire Station in South Shields, one from Sunderland North Community Fire Station in Fulwell and one from Sunderland Central Community Fire Station in Farringdon.
One of the residents was alerted to the fire by a smoke alarm. However not all the properties had working smoke alarms.
Fire crews rescued a girl from a second storey balcony with a 10.5m ladder. Neighbours and passers-by assisted in the rescue, however a number of residents who were trapped on the first floor jumped from a window leaving three with serious injuries.
The crews put out the fire with two firefighters wearing specialist breathing apparatus and a hose reel.
Group Manager Steve Lamb who attended the incident said: "Thankfully we soon got the fire under control. However, there is no doubt that this situation could have been much much worse if it wasn't for early notification by a smoke alarm. If residents had not been alerted to the fire early it could have easily spread resulting in a number of fatalities. I would like to praise the crews for their professionalism in what was a difficult incident and the people who helped in the rescue. Our wishes are with the people and the families of those who have been injured."
Ambulance and police were in attendance. A number of people were taken to hospital.
The Police and Fire Safety Officers are now investigating the cause of the fire which started in a wheelie bin outside the properties.
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