AN ARSON investigation has been launched after a young woman escaped a house fire by climbing out a bedroom window.

Firefighters from Basingstoke fire station were called to the fire in a first floor maisonette in Schubert Road, Brighton Hill, just after midnight on Monday morning.

A 17-year-old woman was inside the house at the time, and after the smoke alarm sounded, she managed to escape through an upstairs window.

A neighbour came to the rescue, putting the fire out by pouring water through the letterbox of the home before crews got to the scene.

Worried Rita Kempster, 80, of Schubert Road, told The Gazette of the moment firefighters got to the scene, adding: “All we saw was the flashing lights which come into our bedroom. That was at about 12.30am. It went on for a while.

“The police told us that there was a load of paper shoved through the letterbox. It does worry us because we are a couple of old geezers.

“It’s rented accommodation and it’s private so we wouldn’t know who the landlord was. The police said they were trying to find out who the landlord is.”

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council originally refused an application to turn the three-bedroom property into two one-bedroom maisonettes in December 2007 but the application was allowed on appeal in July 2008.

Concerned neighbour Katherine Langham, who lives in Schubert Road with her 11-year-old son Brandon, told The Gazette: “I came out and saw the lights and I don’t know what would have happened without the neighbour. There are young children all over the place round here.

“It has been nothing but trouble since it was converted into flats. There are youngsters constantly in and out of there. It should be converted back to a house and then put a family in there.”

Graeme Barbour, communications officer at Hampshire Constabulary, told The Gazette that the 17-year-old who was in the property was not seriously injured but has since received hospital treatment for smoke inhalation.

He added: “Detectives are investigating following a report of a suspected arson incident at a flat in Schubert Road, Brighton Hill, Basingstoke.

“Officers were called to the address shortly after midnight on Monday, April 20 after being notified by colleagues from Hampshire Fire and Rescue.”

A police cordon surrounding the property was lifted on Monday afternoon and the investigation into the incident is ongoing.

Anyone who saw anything suspicious in the area can call the police on 101 quoting 44150131647 or anonymously on 0800 555 111.