FIREFIGHTERS spent 10 minutes resuscitating a 44-year-old woman after rescuing her from a blaze at a block of flats.

The flats at Musgrave Gardens in Musgrave Road, Bolton, have been targeted by arsonists 12 times in the past two months.

Police have arrested a man aged 28 on suspicion of arson following the latest incident. He has been bailed.

However, residents say they are “living in fear” after the spate of fires.

The latest blaze burned a hole in the side of the ground floor flat at the 36-property sheltered housing and retirement complex run by Bolton at Home. Ian Read, watch manager at Bolton Fire Station said: “We were called to the flat where a woman had passed out on a bed.

“We dragged her out and two crew members from our trauma unit spent 10 minutes resuscitating her.

“She was slipping in and out of consciousness and was taken away by an ambulance. She is seriously ill.”

A resident of Musgrave Road, who wished not to be named, said: “It’s frightening living here now. I’ve been here for about 45 years and seen all the pensioners slowly disappear from the flats and these young people move in.

“Firemen have been knocking on doors offering us advice on how to stay safe and what to do in case of a fire.

“I’m thinking about sleeping downstairs because I’m not sure how quickly I could get downstairs if anything happened.

“I’m just so glad I don’t live in any of the flats.”

Another resident in Musgrave Road, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “It’s so worrying with all of this going on. I raised my children here and they want me to move away because it has become so dangerous.

“I walk to Morrisons behind the back of the flats down a passage and my husband keeps telling me to stick to the roads.

“Why should I have to live in fear because of these people? You spend all your money turning your house into a palace and then people like this drive everyone away.”

Another tenant, whose Vauxhall Corsa was set alight in one of the first arson attacks and who wanted to remain anonymous, said: “I certainly don’t feel safe because you’re going to bed not knowing if you’re next.

“My daughter lives down south and was meant to come up after Christmas but I’m not allowing her to until it’s been sorted.

“Why is Musgrave Gardens being targeted? I think it’s somebody with a grudge against someone living in the flats or with Bolton at Home. Whoever is doing it is getting cocky. It takes lots of guts to do what this person is doing.

“Whoever is doing it needs locking up for a long time.”

He said he had repeatedly complained to Bolton at Home to get damage caused by previous fires repaired and debris cleared up — such as the replacement of a back door to a communal stairwell — and feels the delay and inaction by the housing association is making the residents more vulnerable and may be encouraging the arsonist. 

Police launched an investigation at the end of November into 12 arsons committed over the course of seven weeks between October 15 and November 27.

At least 10 of them are believed to have been in Musgrave Gardens or Musgrave Road alone.

More patrols were put in place in the area and the force was liaising with the fire service and Bolton Council to carry out its inquiries.

There had been no update from officers before yesterday’s latest fire broke out.

In a statement, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said: “At 12.03am three fire engines from Bolton Central and Bolton North attended a flat fire on Musgrave Gardens, Bolton. 

“Firefighters using breathing apparatus rescued a casualty who was taken to hospital by ambulance. Firefighters were in attendance for approximately two hours and 20 minutes. The cause is under investigation.”

Police Superintendent Andrea Jones said: “Somebody is helping us with our inquiries and there will be an increased police presence in the area.”

A spokesman for the North West Ambulance Service confirmed paramedics were called at 12.15am and took a patient to Royal Bolton Hospital but could not give more details as it was a private address. It is understood the woman is still recovering in hospital.

LIST OF FIRES:

October 15: 7.40pm and 10.30pm
October 20: 11pm
November 6: 1am and 1.25am: Wheelie bins deliberately burned
November 12: 2.45am
November 17: 3.20am and 8.20am: Black Vauxhall Corsa in parking bay is set alight alongside four wheelie bins 
November 19: 2.30am
November 24: 10.45pm: Wooden boarding set alight and tenants evacuated but resident doused fire with bucket of water
November 25: 2.30am: Liveried unoccupied Ford Fiesta police car parked in Musgrave Road set alight
November 27: 2.50am
December 5: 4.10am