Sparkler fire 'could have killed'

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The grandfather of a man trapped in a fire after sparklers were pushed through a letterbox in Londonderry said three people could easily have died.

A Polish couple and a man living alone were rescued from two separate flats in Claragh Crescent, Derry, on Saturday.

The fire was caused by about 10 sparklers which were pushed into the flats at about 2030 BST.

Brian Smallman said his grandson, Matthew Lynch, and a Polish couple could easily have died.

"He (Matthew) couldn't see the door at all. The only thing he could see was the fireman's light.

"He couldn't even see the fireman because of the thick smoke that was in the flat. There was no other way down that they could get out.

"They just had to wait until the firemen came. If it had been later on at night, there could have been three dead."

The three people were treated for the effects of breathing in smoke following the fire.