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Neighbour is fire hero for second time in days
A HERO neighbour was called into action again after a second suspicious blaze within days at a block of flats.
A flat in the Trinity Walk maisonette complex, at Laygate, South Shields, was destroyed last night.
It comes after a scare on Monday night, when a fire was started in a wheelie bin outside the building, which spread to a wooden fence and then the downstairs flat.
Fire chiefs have not ruled out arson in both cases, and a probe has been launched into a possible link between the two.
At about 8pm yesterday bus driver Steve Johnston, who rescued seven people from the building on Monday, spotted smoke coming from the flat below him.
He again called the fire brigade to the blaze, which began in the living room of the first floor flat, and then alerted his neighbours.
The 47-year-old, who lives in the top of the three storey building, said: "It happened the same as the other day, I rounded everyone up and made sure they were outside.
"You could say it was worse this time because the fire was inside, but thankfully there was no-one home.
"I hope it doesn't mean there is a someone with a vendetta out there."
Crew manager John Reay, of South Shields Fire Station, confirmed last night's fire is now also under investigation and that a fire inspection officer would be visiting the scene later today.
He did not rule out a link between last night's blaze and Monday night's.
He said: "The living room of a second floor flat in the three-storey maisonettes was destroyed by fire and the rest of the flat was severely damaged by smoke.
"Another upstairs flat, on the third floor, was also damaged by smoke. By the time we arrived all the occupants had all self-rescued.
"We used one hose reel, two breathing apparatus and a ventilation fan. The fire started as a result of materials catching fire."
On Monday a fire was started in a wheelie bin containing timber in the yard of the building.
Mr Johnston alerted seven neighbours, including a heavily pregnant 21-year-old and a disabled man.
Fire chiefs said his actions prevented a much worse outcome.
A 49-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of arson following the first incident but was released with no further action to be taken by police.
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Weather for Jarrow
Monday 21 May 2012
Today
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Temperature: 6 C to 13 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North east
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