Exmouth firefighters tackle Louisa Terrace blaze

HOMES in Louisa Terrace were evacuated in the early hours of Monday morning when a fire broke out in a block of flats.

HOMES in Louisa Terrace were evacuated in the early hours of Monday morning when a fire broke out in a block of flats.

Fire crews from Exmouth, Budleigh Salterton, Topsham and the aerial platform from Exeter were called to the third-floor property shortly before 3.30am after a neighbour reported smelling smoke.

When the fire crews arrived they could see smoke coming from a flat and gained entry to the building.

Firefighters wore breathing apparatus and used hose reels - working through the night - to tackle the blaze, and used a thermal imaging camera to trace the core of the fire.

Once it was established the blaze started in an airing cupboard, the crews began cutting away the affected area to prevent any further spread of fire.

The crews left the property just after 7am after making the area safe and the fire service returned at 10am to carry out further checks.