DOZENS of residents were evacuated from their flats just outside the town centre on Sunday after a blaze spread through the wooden cladding.

Around 30 firefighters were called to the Skyline Flats, on Heelis Street, shortly after 8am on Sunday morning.

Residents in the flats were evacuated while the crews tackled the blaze.

The accidental fire involved the external cladding on the building and luckily there were no reports of any casualties.

The crews left the scene at 4.42pm.

Group manager Chris Tyler of South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue said: “They can be complex, high-rise buildings, but crews are well-trained, well-rehearsed, well-experienced in this sort of stuff.

“Luckily the crews were on the scene very quickly and extinguished the fire which was outside the property.

“We did have to do a full evacuation of the building, mainly as a precaution, however, some of the flats have had to be further evacuated due to smoke logging.”

Central ward councillors Nicola Sumner and Martin O’Donoghue have offered their support to anyone affected.

They added: “We want to praise the emergency services swift response to the fire at Skyline apartments.

“We are really pleased no one was hurt.

“The council worked with closely with partners and the management company of the flats to ensure support was given to tenants and residents affected.

“We’ll have to await the outcome of the South Yorkshire Fire Brigade investigation and will continue to closely monitor the situation.

“We want residents at the flats and surrounding area affected to know that we are here as local councillors to assist them if needed.”