A WOMAN in her nineties was treated by paramedics after her flat in sheltered housing caught fire.

Three fire crews and ambulance crews arrived at the flats on Pintails, Pitsea, at about 8.15pm on **Feb 25** where they found the woman, who had left her burning home, suffering from smoke inhalation.

A further three residents were also treated by ambulance crews.

Two residents in upstairs flats above hers were led out of their smoke-filled homes by firefighters and were able to return once the fire, which was well established in an electricity cupboard, had been dealt with shortly after 9pm.

Initially, two fire crews had been sent to the scene, but a third was requested by the incident commander for additional breathing apparatus and firefighters used a high pressure fan to clear the building of smoke once the fire was out at 8.40pm.

A fire investigation will now be carried out to determine the cause of the blaze.