Man Arrested After Kidderminster Flat Fire
28 November 2014, 06:06 | Updated: 28 November 2014, 13:34
A man has been arrested after a mother and son were left critically injured in a flat fire in Kidderminster.
The pair, aged 22 and five, were in a flat above a shop in Horsefair when it caught alight last night just before 10pm.
West Mercia Police say a 41-year-old man from Kidderminster's been arrested on suspicion of arson with the intent to endanger life.
Officers from West Mercia Police and Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service launched an investigation following the fire in an apartment above a shop in the Horsefair area of the town. The fire was reported at 9.55pm on Thursday 27 November.
The woman was taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital and the boy taken to Birmingham Children’s Hospital. The woman’s condition is described as critical and the boy’s condition's described as serious but stable.
Two others were treated for the effects of smoke inhalation and taken to Worcester Hospital. Their condition is not described as serious.
Horsefair and Radford Avenue down to the Ringway remian closed.
Anyone with information regarding the incident should call 101
Police are investigating what started it and the road is closed. Some people living nearby haven't been able to go back to their homes.
Robert Marsh, Area Manager for West Midlands Ambulance Service, said: “A woman and a boy, believed to be mother and child, were treated at the scene before being transferred to hospital. The woman was taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital and the boy taken to Birmingham Children’s Hospital. Their condition is described as critical.”
Two others were treated for the effects of smoke inhalation and taken to Worcester Hospital. Their condition is not described as serious.
Plans are being put in place to house people who will not be able to return to surrounding properties tonight.
Radford Avenue down to the Ringway is currently closed and is likely to remain closed for the foreseeable future while police and fire officers investigate the incident.
Nick Cadman, North Worcestershire Fire Commander, said: “Fire crews responded promptly to the incident and recovered two casualties from the building. They worked with police and ambulance crews to treat the casualties at the scene before they were taken to hospital.
“This was a significant operation involving all the emergency services and our primary concern was the immediate safety of people involved in the incident. The prompt action of the officers also helped to limit the impact on residential and commercial properties in the surrounding area.”
Superintendent Kevin Purcell, from West Mercia Police, added: “We are currently treating this fire as suspicious and would appeal for anyone with information that may help with our investigation to contact us. The investigation will be led by a detective inspector and will involve investigators from the fire and rescue service and our scenes of crime officers. We would like to thank everyone in the surrounding area for their support and patience while we manage and investigate this incident.”