Neighbours kicked down door of burning flat, in Merefield Gardens, Tadworth, and tackled the flames (From Your Local Guardian)

Neighbours kicked down door of burning flat, in Merefield Gardens, Tadworth, and tackled the flames

8:00am Thursday 9th September 2010 in

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Three men who burst into a burning flat and put out the fire with buckets of water have been hailed as heroes for saving the whole of their apartment block.

Martin Krishnan, 29, and two friends suffered burnt hands and singed hair as they tackled the flames following the suspected arson attack in Merefield Gardens, Tadworth.

According to neighbours the family who live at the ground floor flat, including four children, were on holiday when the blaze started at about 11.20pm on Saturday. However police said that the property was vacant after the occupants moved out.

It is believed an object had been lit and put through the letter box, causing a fire to start inside, according to police.

Neighbours said they saw hooded figures running away as the flames spread through the hall.

Mr Krishan’s mum Sarah, who lives directly opposite the flat, said: “At the end of the day the boys thought there was someone in that house and they didn’t think.

“As soon as the boys broke the door open the flames went up the sides. I just screamed to everyone: ‘Get out, fire, fire.’

“The boys did well, a lot of people could have been killed.

“I’m proud of what they’ve done, they put themselves in danger to save however many other people in this block. They were absolutely brilliant.”

She said her daughter first raised the alarm after noticing the flames when she opened their front door.

Neighbour Brian Horn said firefighters evacuated the block, and police were at the flat until about 5pm on Sunday.

He said: “I came out and there was thick black smoke.

“It was obviously something put through the letter box, that’s what the fire brigade said.”

He said the street had been plagued by antisocial behaviour in the last two months.

A spokesman from Epsom fire station said: “The fire was put out before we arrived by neighbours, they managed to kick the door in and put it out.

“If they hadn’t then the block would have gone.”

Anyone with information should contact Detective Constable Leigh Wall at Surrey Police on 0845 125 2222, quoting reference number RB/10/8349.

● A 16-year-old girl and a 14-year-old boy have been arrested in connection with the incident and have been released on police bail while investigations continue.