A MENTALLY ill Penrith arsonist threatened to stab two firefighters through thick smoke as they worked.

Police were alerted by the fire service on March 18 to a blaze at a Carleton Road property divided into flats which is supported housing for vulnerable people.

Eren Zihni, 39, lived in an upper floor address of the building which was entered by two firefighters from the first of four crews to attend the scene, at around 10.55pm.

They wore breathing apparatus to search and potentially rescue anyone. Zihni had started a fire in his flat which then spread.

Prosecutor Tim Evans told Carlisle Crown Court: “There was a great deal of smoke but they located the seat of the fire on a sofa which had in turn burned a hole in the floor.”

Witnesses described the sofa, carpet and floorboards ablaze.

The firefighters extinguished the blaze and went to Zhini’s room across the landing but found the door barricaded.

“An attempt was made to kick the door down but the defendant told them to leave him alone as he wanted to kill himself,” said Mr Evans. “They tried to talk to the defendant who responded by threatening to stab them, telling them he had two knives.”

One firefighter later described himself as frightened and not knowing where Zihni was through the smoke while threats were being delivered.

The other firefighter talked about retreating in fear that blades might be used.

During five hours of police negotiations, Zhini had made a string of stab threats, and stated “I’m going to jail anyway”; “I’ve got nowt to lose”; and “if I’m dying I’m taking someone else with us”.

The fire caused £22,000 of structural damage, while the cost of requiring was put at £2,500 and furniture at £2,770. The flat — intended for use by a vulnerable person — was out of use for a time.

Fortunately, a central fire station was less than a mile away.

Zihni admitted arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered, and affray.

His solicitor, Jeff Smith, said he had been suffering “quite dramatically” from schizophrenia at the time.

“He had very little recollection of what was going on,” said Mr Smith of the night. “He regrets the damage and fear he caused to people around him. He was very ill at the time of the commission of this offence. He is no longer ill.”

Judge Ian Unsworth KC noted Zihni had since undergone medical treatment and was remorseful.

Jailing him for 40 months, the judge said: “It was a time, late at night, when people might be expected to be asleep or getting ready for bed.

“This was a multi-occupancy premises and multiple people were endangered.”