A WOMAN could have died in a house blaze because fire crews were dealing with a stolen car that had been dumped and set on fire by vandals.

"The actions of those people who stole the car could have caused a tragedy," said Tony Churchill, station manager for Cleveland Fire Brigade, at Grangetown.

Both the station's appliances had gone to the car fire because of escalating yob violence against fire crews in the area, then fire control received a 999 call to the blaze in Arundale Road, Grangetown.

The unnamed woman who was rescued with her dog, was found sitting confused and disorientated on the stairs of her house which was rapidly filling with smoke.

Her life was saved thanks to a quick-thinking neighbour who heard her smoke alarm.

A fire officer at the scene of the car fire redeployed one of the engines to the house.

Two back-up fire engines were called in from neighbouring Redcar fire station to help deal with the blaze.

Mr Churchill said: "It took the other appliances four to five minutes to get there - which could have cost a life."

Saluting the actions of the neighbour, Mr Churchill said: "We can't emphasise the importance of smoke alarms enough. Even though the lady herself did not hear it, her neighbour did and got help.''

Firefighters gave the rescued woman oxygen and she was taken to hospital suffering the effects of heavy smoke inhalation. "It could have been an absolute tragedy," said Mr Churchill.

Firefighters have been pelted with stones, fireworks and golf balls while attending fires at Grangetown.

"In this area we have had a lot of problems of violence on staff and because of that we increase our pre-determined attendance, so we sent both appliances last night.

Grangetown was once the car burning capital of the UK - and is still contributing to Teesside's position at the top of the national league table for arson attacks.

As recently highlighted in The Northern Echo, the brigade has introduced a pioneering scheme working with youngsters aged ten to 16, aimed at deterring them from starting fires and making malicious hoax calls.