THE BRAVE actions of residents in a block of Runcorn flats managed to prevent a potentially dangerous blaze from spreading out of control.
Fire broke out at the Woodland Walk in Castlefields, after an abandoned sofa was deliberately set alight along the landing area of the second floor flats.
Two pumps were called out, but when they arrived the fire had been largely contained by neighbours who extinguished the flames using buckets of water in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
Sub-officer Sean Henshaw, said: 'The fire could have been a lot worse, if the residents hadn't reacted in the way they did.
'I'd say there was about 60-70% fire damage made to the staircase, but luckily the flats were spared with only minor smoke damage,'
He added: 'I'd like to remind the public of of the fire service response to fires, based on the fight or flight principle. On this occasion, the residents reacted very well by taking up flight.'
