Arrest Made After House Fire In Eye

1 March 2010, 05:40 | Updated: 1 March 2010, 09:58

A 42-year-old man has been arrested after a house fire in Eye yesterday morning.

Police were called at 3.30am by a male at a property in Hutton Court. Officers had serious concerns for the welfare of the male and family members who were inside the house and immediately attended the scene.

On arrival, officers found a woman and two children safely leaving the property.

A fire was then started within the house. The male came out of the house and was found to have sustained serious injuries. The fire service and ambulance service were called to the scene. The man was taken to Ipswich hospital in a critical condition, with potentially life threatening burns. He was later transferred to the specialist burns unit at Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford.

Due to concerns over a gas leak from the house, seven residents who lived in adjacent and nearby properties were evacuated to Eye fire station. Once the fire had been put out and the scene declared safe, residents were allowed back into their properties at 5am. The property remains cordoned off.

The 42-year-old male who was taken to hospital with burns has now been released from hospital. He has been taken into police custody at Bury St Edmunds Police Station this morning where he is awaiting questioning on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life.