Fireman has narrow escape in blaze drama

29 July 2010

A FIREMAN had a narrow escape after partly falling through floor boards during a blaze in a derelict house in Canning Town yesterday.

James Cooper of Plaistow's Blue Watch was unharmed in the incident in Hooper Road at around 3pm.

Blue Watch manager John Butten said: "The fireman was not injured as he was correctly following procedures by testing the floor boards as he entered the building."

The cause of the fire, which was attended by 12 fire fighters with some wearing breathing apparatus, is under investigation.

In an earlier incident in Edinburgh Court near Dundee Road, a maisonette suffered 50 per cent damage after it was believed the blaze was started by a burning cigarette.

A smoke alarm alerted a neighbour to the fire, which watch manager Butten said highlighted the importance of fitting a smoke alarm and closing internal doors when leaving a property.