FOREST Fields residents say they believe squatters might have been to blame for a house fire.
Firefighters from Central and Stockhill stations put out the blaze, which broke out at 11am yesterday in Premier Road, off Gregory Boulevard.
The road was cordoned off for three hours while investigations were carried out into the cause, which turned out to be a faulty heater on the ground floor.
Mike Roberts, 36, who lives opposite the house, said it was an empty property where homeless people stayed.
He said: "We heard the fire engines around 11am and could see smoke billowing from the first-floor window, but no flames.
"I know the house is definitely not lived in by a family or permanent residents and it has had squatters in there in the past.
"They have never caused much trouble before, but it is sad to see a nice house like that on fire."
He added: "Several fire engines came and firefighters quickly put the fire out. I suppose it is a shame that we get squatters around here, but it happens everywhere."
Mr Roberts' flat mate, John Stevens, 35, said the house had been empty for as long as he could remember.
He said: "We didn't see any people being rescued from the house and as far as I know it has been empty for a long time apart from the squatters."
Another resident, 21-year-old Nauman Khan, said his mother had heard the fire engines screech to a halt outside the burning house.
He said: "I was asleep this morning when it all kicked off, but my mum was awake and heard the engines.
"It is an empty house, but I've seen people in and out of there who don't officially live there.
"It was quite dramatic for a Sunday morning but I didn't see loads of flames or anything.
"The people don't cause us any trouble. This is the first time anything like this has happened."
Investigating officer Bruce Keeling, who is based at Central Fire Station, said: "The property is not permanently inhabited and one person had got himself out of the house before we got there.
"We are putting the cause down to a faulty temporary heater on the ground floor of the house. At this stage we are saying the cause is accidental and the fire is not being treated as suspicious."
A spokesperson for Notts police said: "A 28-year-old man suffered minor burns and was taken to Nottingham's Queen's Medical Centre for treatment. No other person was inside the house."
Have you got problems with empty houses in your area? Contact our newsdesk on 0115 905 1967 or email newsdesk@nottinghampostgroup.co.uk
