A ten-week-old baby was among ten people who fled in their nightclothes as a blaze ripped through a flat early today.
Southend firefighters, who say they were "overwhelmed" by the smell of an inflammable substance as they arrived at the tower block in Sherwood Road, Southend, believe the fire was deliberately started.
Four fire engines were called to the block after a series of emergency calls from tenants who fled from their homes after seeing smoke billowing from the high-rise flats.
Residents on the seventh and eighth floors of Longbow flats - including a number of children - were evacuated as the seventh floor became engulfed in smoke and flames.
Crews from Leigh, Shoebury and Rochford joined the Southend crews using breathing apparatus and an aerial ladder as they made several rescue attempts.
Ten residents were taken to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation.
Published Monday, June 23, 2003
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