Firefighters rescued a man from a first floor window in Stratford last night.

Two fire engines from Stratford and Plaistow stations attended a house fire in Vaughan Road after being called out at 11.33pm

They rescued the man, who was not injured but had become trapped by smoke and flames downstairs, and the fire was out by 00.25am.

Two women escaped the property before fire crews arrived and were taken to hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation and minor burns.

The fire, which is believed to have started when clothes were left next to a fan heater, damaged part of a ground floor bedroom.

Watch Manager Thomas Gilson, from Stratford fire station, who was at the scene, said: “The fire started in the back bedroom, and one of the occupants tried to fight the fire herself with pans of water.

“You should never try and fight a fire yourself – you risk getting hurt and making the incident worse.

“Firefighters have the proper skills and equipment to tackle a fire safely, so always get out, stay out, and call 999 if you have one.”

Fires caused by electrical heaters have resulted in 11 deaths and nearly 80 injuries over the past five winters, and most are preventable.