FOUR people were rescued from the balcony of a block of flats after a fire was started by arsonists.
A 25-year-old, two 16-year-olds and a 15-year-old were rescued at about 8pm on Saturday, when a rubbish store at Breen Close flats, in North Ormesby, Middlesbrough, was set alight.
The fire quickly spread, causing severe damage to a balcony and filling it with smoke.
Fire brigade spokesman Brian Lee said it placed first-floor residents and those living above in serious danger.
"The fire was quite severe when we arrived, and people had no means of getting down," he said. "The four people rescued could very easily have been in serious danger from smoke inhalation."
No one was injured in the incident.
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