UPDATE: 5.20pm

Gwent police have confirmed they are treating the fire as arson.
The front door to the flats was severely damaged but had not been broken open.

The communal hallway and stairwell had extensive smoke damage with blackened walls and carpets up to the third floor. Two pushchairs could be seen under the stairs on the ground floor.

The building was boarded up but could reopen to tenants as soon as tomorrow. Tenants were put up in alternative accommodation while the building was made safe. There were no reported injuries.

UPDATE: 2.08pm

A MOTHER and her child were rescued from this morning's blaze at flats in Maindee.

The fire, at Sandalwood Court in Maindee, blocked the access door to the building and was " well alight" when fire crews arrived at 2.32am.

A Fire Control operator gave ‘Fire Survival Guidance’ to the occupier over the telephone, re-assuring them, until the fire crews arrived to aid her safe rescue and fight the fire.

A third person was found trapped in a ground floor flat and was successfully rescued and taken to safety. The remaining four flats were unoccupied.

A fire control operator gave guidance to the woman over the phone, re-assuring them, until the fire crews.

The fire was extinguished quickly which enabled crews to make rapid access to the third floor flat.

The smoke alarms alerted the occupants to the fire, giving them ‘life saving time’ to call the emergency services.  The Fire Control Operator gave life saving advice, which on this occasion resulted in no injuries to the occupants. 

Martin Hendersen, Head of Risk Reduction, South Wales Fire and Rescue Service said: “A working smoke alarm can buy you and your family the valuable time you need to get out, stay out and call 999. This incident has proven their effectiveness and the importance of having a working smoke alarm fitted in your home”.

Gwent Police are currently investigating the cause of the fire and appeal to anyone who may have information to call the non-emergency number 101.

UPDATE: 9.34am

THREE people were rescued from a fire in Maindee, Newport early this morning.

Three fire crews from Maindee, Duffryn and Malpas were called to Sandal Wood Court at 2.32am and the fire was put out by 3.06am.

The three were led to safety by firefighters after the main door to a block of flats was deliberately set on fire say South Wales Fire and Rescue.

Fire crews left at 3.20am and the property was made secure.

Ambulance and police also attended.