FIREFIGHTERS narrowly escaped injury as they tackled three blazing houses while youngsters danced in the street shouting "let them burn".

Today residents told how they are desperate to leave their estate where homes are regularly set alight after two empty houses and a bungalow in Flimby Close, Fishmore Estate, Blackburn, went up in flames in the latest incident yesterday.

The roof of one of the dwellings caved in just as firefighters were about to enter at around 5.30pm.

They believe the fire was started deliberately and say they are fed-up with being called to the troubled estate.

It is the latest in a string of incidents where empty properties have been targeted by young vandals.

Sylvia Wilkinson alerted the emergency services after smoke started pouring into her house.

She suffered slight burns to her hands after turning her hosepipe on the blazing buildings.

"I have never known anything like it. I hate it here," she said. "I don't know who started the fire, but several youngsters were dancing in the street, singing: 'Let them burn, let them burn'. Some of these kids are out of control."

Blackburn fire station officer Andrew Barnes said it was amazing that no one was injured or killed in the blaze.

"It was a hazardous situation and the roof of one of the houses caved in just as we were about to enter," he said. "The fire was undoubtedly started deliberately. This is happening too often. It is very dangerous and lives are being put at risk."

Now residents want to leave the troubled estate and mothers claim they are afraid to let their young children play out.

Mum-of-four Theresa Dennison, who has lived in Flimby Close for nine years, said the estate was now so run down it was a magnet to vandals and arsonists.

She accused Blackburn with Darwen Council of neglecting the estate at the expense of existing residents.

And mum-of-three Samantha Brown, of nearby Leven's Close, said Fishmoor had become "like Beirut".

"There's nothing for youngsters to do," she said. "There are three empty properties next to me and I wonder how long it will be before they are burned down. Residents have had enough and the council just doesn't care."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.