TWO people had to be rescued from the roof of a two-storey block of flats after a fire took hold on a staircase.

The blaze, which is being treated as suspicious, broke out at flats in Folkestone Road, Dover. Fire crews suspect petrol was poured through the letterbox and set on fire and now a joint investigation between Kent Police and Kent Fire and Rescue Service has been launched.

The blaze, which was discovered at about 1am on Tuesday, spread up a communal staircase and blew out a first floor window, trapping two people living in two top-floor flats.

The occupants had no option but to escape on to the roof. They were rescued by fire crews using a moveable ladder and cradle.

The blaze caused extensive damage to the communual areas of the flats and tenants have had to move out while repairs are carried out and the building is made safe.

Ground floor tenant Mark Brown, 20, who was luckily away from home when the blaze started, said: “I was staying at my dad’s on Monday night as I had to be up for work early.

“I really don’t know why someone would want to do this. It could have been a lot, lot worse, as there is a gas main right near where the fire took hold.”