A FIREFIGHTER has slammed Mini-Holland after crews were stopped from tackling a blaze at a house.

Responding to reports of a house fire at around 3.30am on Tuesday (December 6), crews rushed to Ritchings Avenue, in Walthamstow, but found their way blocked by a familiar sight – Mini-Holland barriers.

The fire started after a mattress, left outside for the council to pick up, was deliberately put up against the home and set alight.

Firefighters wasted critical time trying to collapse the fixed barrier, while a fire threatened to engulf the home.

A Waltham Forest firefighter, who does not want to be named, fears a serious injury is likely if the situation does not change.

He said: “These are fixed barriers and we can’t get through them.

“They said we would get keys when they started putting them up but we haven’t had any.

“We had to park the truck and the boys had to run down, it is tight around there anyway.

East London and West Essex Guardian Series:

Firefighters blocked off from house fire in Ritchings Avenue (Pic: Google)

“It might be ok in the village but not over here as it is.

"We have been caught out a couple times now.

"This is not on, someone could get hurt."

The homeowner said his family was shaken up by the incident, admitting he feels very vulnerable to further harm.

This comes only day after a video emerged of a medic complaining his ambulance could not reach a stroke victim due to Mini Holland road closures.

Paramedics reportedly arrived to the Walthamstow Islamic Centre, in Grove Road, on September 20, but finding the road blocked off, wasted six precious minutes getting to the patient.

In the footage obtained by the Guardian, a witness is heard to ask the paramedic: “So it is because of the road closures you couldn’t come through?”

The medic replies: “We couldn’t get through, we are not from this area, point is, I didn’t know Grove Road was closed or the other roads because I haven’t been here for ages.”

Witnessing the incident, Christine Greig said: “This was a stroke victim, there is a window in which to save someone and we could see him getting worse before our eyes.”

Cllr Clyde Loakes said he is very sorry to hear about this incident and he hopes all of the residents involved are safe and unharmed.

Mr Loakes said: "We included the bridge closures as part of wider changes being made under the Mini-Holland programme.

“Before the closures were put in place, there was an existing three tonne weight limit in place on this and neighbouring bridges.

“So it would have been prohibited and unsafe for a fire engine to access Ritchings Avenue via this route anyway.

"We have asked the London Fire Brigade for a full account of this incident so we can determine if any further action is needed on our part.”