FIRE crews responded to two blazes with people reported trapped within 11 minutes of each other.

The first call yesterday night, Sunday October 21, was to Conyers, Nettlesworth, where a house was on fire.

Three appliances from Durham were sent as there were fears that people were inside.

But the crews arrived to find that the occupants had got out. The house was badly damage in the blaze.

Eleven minutes after the first call, the brigade received several calls about a ground floor flat on fire in Reeth Court, Sacriston, a mile or so away.

With Durham crews already in action, appliances from High Handenhold and Spennymoor were despatched. The occupant got out but there were fears someone was still in the upstairs flat, which was slightly damaged.

However it was found that the flat was empty.

One man was taken to the University Hospital of North Durham suffering smoke inhalation.

The cause of both fires is being investigated. The flat blaze is possibly suspicious.

A Durham fire service spokesman said there was nothing to link the two fires at this stage “A house fire with persons reported automatically gets three appliances mobilised.

“Having two so close together we were still able to muster three appliances at each incident.

“From a reassurance point of view, it is good we got all those resources there.”