ARSON is being blamed after a couple had to be dramatically rescued after a fire was started in Panshanger.
Police said “some things” were piled up and torched in front of the front door to the maisonette in Lincoln Close between 4am and 4.20am on Wednesday.
The fire had not breached the front door of the property.
Firefighters used an extendable ladder and plucked the trapped man and woman from a first floor window.
Four fire engines, two from WGC, one from Welwyn and one from Hatfield, arrived at the scene and a jet was used to douse the blaze.
Two people were taken by ambulance to the QE2 Hospital with smoke inhalation.
Firefighters donned breathing apparatus and entered the home to check the fire had not spread.
The fire was out by 5am.
The cause of the fire is currently under investigation, but police confirmed they are treating it as an arson attack.
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