Saxton Apartments fire: Dramatic footage captures moment blaze rips through Leeds flat as residents evacuated

The fire, that can be seen through the window of the Saxton Apartments building in Richmond Hill, broke out at around 11pm.

Residents were rushed down a staircase by firefighters as thick black smoke billowed into the night sky.

Three fire crews were sent to the scene and rescued one man, who was suffering the effects of smoke inhalation. Panicked residents filmed the huge emergency services response from their apartments.

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They included James Rayner, 45, an IT support worker from Leeds. He said: “I’m on the eighth floor of the building. Someone was banging on my door to tell me there was a fire.

“It would have been ridiculous to ignore it. The flat must have been on fire for about an hour. It seemed to take out one corner of the room.

“Everyone was stood outside looking at it. Thankfully, there wasn’t enough time for it to spread.”

He added: “The whole flat is coal black inside now.”

West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said that smoke detectors have been fitted. Details of the cause have not yet been released.