Thatcham woodland fires suspected arson
Newbury firefighters tackled a suspected arson in woodland on Tuesday afternoon.
According to Richard Young, the watch manager of Green Watch at Newbury Fire Station, one pump from Newbury was called at 5pm to woodland next to Foxglove Way and Cowslip Crescent, where three separate piles of newspapers were on fire.
Firefighters used buckets of water to extinguish the fires, which were being treated as suspicious.
Firefighters left the scene after about half an hour.
Accused ‘repeatedly made threats’
It was claimed that Melanie Smith, 42, was drinking heavily on the day leading up to the fire and was heard shouting through Ms Shiers letterbox “I’m going to burn your house down”.
Smith and neighbour Lee-Anna Shiers argued for up to two months before the blaze, the court was told.
The row is said to have intensified over a pram which was left in a walkway outside their flat. Smith is accused of killing the family of five by setting the pram alight.
Ms Shiers, 20, her four-year-old nephew Bailey and two-year-old niece Skye died in the blaze at their home in North Wales.
Firefighters managed to rescue Ms Shiers’ 15-month-old son Charlie and his father, Liam Timbrell, 23, from their first-floor flat but they both died in hospital.
Smith, 42, who lived in the flat below the victims in Maes y Groes, Prestatyn, has gone on trial at Mold Crown Court accused of murdering them.
The court was played a harrowing 999 call in which Mr Timbrell shouted: “Oh my god, oh my god, we’re going to die.”
The jury was told that Mr Timbrell later told rescuing paramedics that “it was arson” and “it was Mel from downstairs”.
Smith denies the five murder charges and also one count of making a threat to destroy or damage property.
Plymouth shop damaged in arson attack
Police are searching for a gang of arsonists after a fire broke out at a shop in Plymouth on 26th November.
The fire started at around 7.30pm when a firework was used to set fire to a package in a store room of the Square Discount store in St Budeaux Square, Plymouth.
Crews from Camels Head, Crownhill and Greenbank attended the incident and spent several hours bringing the fire under control and damping down the blaze.
The ground floor of the shop was severely damaged by fire and smoke. The second floor was also damaged.
Detective constable Miles said that the owner of the shop is shocked by what has happened. He said: “He sells a range of items, like shampoo and hairspray as well as chemicals for the photo processing machine he uses. However, at this time of year he had a lot of wrapping paper, decorations and other Christmas stock which he’s now lost to the fire and smoke damage, so it’s really set him back at a time when he can ill afford it.”
An investigation is now being carried by the fire service and police.
Surrey nursery school destroyed in suspicious fire
A nursery school in Surrey has been seriously damaged after a fire broke out on 2nd December.
The fire broke out at around 4am at Toad Hall Nursery off Wishbone Way in Woking. Six fire engines attended the incident.
Jason Remnant from the fire service said that the roof of the nursery has been completely destroyed and that the first floor had collapsed.
Another business which is part of the same building was also damaged in the incident but this is not thought to be serious.
It is not yet known how the fire started but foul play is suspected. A full investigation will now be carried out.
Mother and children escape arson attack at home in Croydon
A mother and her child were rescued by fire crews after petrol was poured through the letterbox of their home and set alight on 11th November.
Firefighters rescued the woman and child from the first floor of the building in Grove Road, Thornton Heath, during the blaze which began at around 10.15pm. Two other children managed to escape from the house before firefighters arrived.
All were treated by paramedics at the scene for smoke inhalation and were then taken to Croydon University Hospital.
A neighbour who witnessed the incident said: “They threw the can around the corner into the garden. Luckily they smelled petrol and were able to call the fire brigade immediately.”
Nigel Baker, Norbury Watch Manager said: “Firefighters worked hard to get both mother and child out quickly. The house was really smoky, and the crews did very well in challenging conditions. It’s very fortunate that no one was more seriously injured.”
Another witness, Ann Hawthorne said: “I heard a lot of noise and saw the fire engines outside the house and a ladder going to the upper floor. Somebody was up there, a fireman who was helping them.”
The cause of the fire is being investigated by the London Fire Brigade and the Met but arson is suspected.