A home went up in flames after a cigarette was unsafely discarded, leading to a blaze that tore thourgh the garden room and loft space. 

The resident has a 'lucky escape' after a blaze took control of their home, leading to extensive damage to the garden room and loft space.

It is thought the fire started in Royal Quays, North Shields after a cigarette was not properly extinguished, resulting in the home's garden room igniting. 

Thankfully, the resident was not seriously injured as they managed to self-rescue before the fire crews arrived to extinguish the fire. 

Earlier this week, Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service issued warnings about residents tackling housefires themselves, after two fires were worsened when water was used to try to put out an oil fire and an electrical fire. 

Three crews from Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service attended the blaze, extinguishing the fire and performing "safe and well" checks on the property and neighbouring homes, to ensure that they all had appropriate smoke alarms and fire safety advice. 

A Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “We can confirm that on Sunday 8th January three of our appliances were deployed to a residential fire at a property at Royal Quays in North Shields, North Tyneside.

“The emergency call was received by our Fire Control team at 11.48am and the three crews were sent from Tynemouth and Wallsend Community Fire Stations.

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The Northern Echo: A cigarette is believed to have started this devastating house fire.A cigarette is believed to have started this devastating house fire. (Image: TWFRS)

“The location of the accidental fire was a garden room attached to the property, which quickly spread to the loft space.

“Luckily nobody was seriously injured during the incident as one resident managed to self-rescue before our crews arrived to extinguish the fire.

“Our crews administered Safe and Well checks on the property, and to two nearby homes to ensure they had appropriate smoke alarms and fire safety advice.

“The crews left the scene at 12.43pm once the fire had been put out.  Our colleagues at Northumbria Police and North East Ambulance Service were also in attendance.”

TWFRS have warned people to always ensure that their cigarettes are disposed of safely, and fully extinguished. 

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