'The flames were higher than the trees' - residents' shock after Sunderland care home fire

Six people were taken to hospital on Friday, June 26, after flames ripped through the roof void at The Croft, in Ettrick Grove, Sunderland, before smoke descended through the building.

The casualties, who include two care home residents, a member of staff and two contractors who had been working at the premises, are all believed to have non life-threatening injuries.

Eight of the residents were rescued from the smoke-logged first floor by firefighters after the building was evacuated.

Those who did not need hospital treatment, around 25 in total, were taken to the nearby Holy Cross nursing and residential care home to recover from their ordeal.

Retired buildings manager Brian Ford, 69, had been working in his nearby garden when he heard 999 vehicles arriving at just after 10.30am.

Mr Ford, married to midwifery manager Sheila, 63, said: “When I heard the sirens I thought there had been a car crash at first because we have had a few nasty ones near here over the years.

“I went to have a look and could see smoke coming through the trees.

“Suddenly there was a gush and you could see the flames shooting up into the sky. They were higher than the trees, about a third higher.

“Then you saw all the staff, God bless them, taking the residents up the road to the other home.”

Ian and Kathleen Thompson, both 79, who live further away from The Croft, were in their back garden when they saw the clouds suddenly turn dark.

Mr Thompson, a retired Royal Mail manager, described the incident as the largest emergency in the area since they moved there around 40 years ago.

He added: “I went to the front garden and all I could see was the emergency services and a funnel of smoke coming away from the building.

“Someone passing by said The Croft was on fire.

“Then we saw what we think were the care home residents in wheelchairs getting taken into the Holy Cross.

“They are very fortunate they have another home so nearby to move them to so quickly.”

Area manager Richard Rickaby praised the firefighters who rescued the eight residents from a smoke-logged area of the building.

He said: “They have had to perform what we call a snatch rescue and assist or carry the residents out.

“The residents had different levels of mobility. There was smoke throughout the first floor.

“The fire has spread through the roof void towards the annexe and front of the building.

“Smoke and possibly fire has then come down to the first floor.”

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper.

Thank you.

How to subscribe to the print edition:

It’s easy to subscribe to your local newspaper. We have arranged a special 20 per cent off subscription offer for people to take advantage of. Visit www.localsubsplus.co.uk, choose the newspaper title, the type of subscription and enter your details.