INVESTIGATIONS are underway into what caused a blaze at home in Southtown, Great Yarmouth, this morning. Firefighters were called to the large detached home on Lichfield Road shortly after 8am after passers-by had noticed smoke coming from a window.

INVESTIGATIONS are underway into what caused a blaze at home in Southtown, Great Yarmouth, this morning.

Firefighters were called to the large detached home on Lichfield Road shortly after 8am after passers-by had noticed smoke coming from a window.

Robert Chalmers, 25, was first on the scene after spotting smoke billowing from a first floor window.

Mr Chalmers, of Framlingham Close, Southtown, said: “I was driving back from Hopton after dropping my girlfriend off at work and noticed smoke coming from a window.

“I got out of the car and ran into the garden and started banging on a window. There was no reply so I started banging on the door.”

A man passing in a van stopped and called the fire service who arrived on scene within minutes.

“I would have been prepared to in to rescue people,” added bar manager Mr Chalmers.

At the height of the blaze four fire engines from Yarmouth and Gorleston were on scene and the fire was extinguished within 50 minutes. Six of the 25 firefighters on scene tackled the blaze wearing breathing apparatus and using hose reel jets.

Watch manager John Hudson said a serious fire had badly damaged the main lounge and the rest of the house had suffered smoke damage.

He said: “Initial reports suggested people were inside the house but crews quickly established the house was empty.”

Mr Hudson said it was too early to say what had caused the fire and specialist teams would examine the property later today.

Sgt Clive Jermy of Norfolk Police confirmed they were investigating a fire within the premises and attempts were being made to contact the owner.