Two police officers were taken to hospital after suffering dog bites to the arm and hand at the scene of a house fire.
Just after 4:50am this morning officers received a report of a fire on Claughton Road in Birkenhead. Nine other container and car fires were also reported in the nearby area.
Several people have been taken to the hospital with injuries caused by smoke inhalation, but are in stable condition.
The fires have been extinguished by the Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service and houses in the area have been evacuated with road closures currently in place. Several people have been taken to the hospital with injuries caused by smoke inhalation, but are in stable condition.
Police now believe the fires may have been deliberately set. A 31-year-old Egremont man has been arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life. He has been transferred to a police station for further questioning.
A joint investigation is underway between the Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service and Merseyside Police and anyone with information is asked to contact the police.
Chief Inspector Colin Dyer said: “We are working closely with the Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service to establish the cause of this horrific incident which has caused extensive damage to the homes of several people and has left one house destroyed in Birkenhead. Although we have made an arrest, I would ask anyone who lives in the area and has seen or heard anything from 4:30 am onwards this morning to come forward.
“You may have doorbell footage or have been driving past houses in a vehicle that has a dashcam. Please check as this could be vital to our investigation.”
Anyone who witnessed the incident or has any information is welcome to DM us via our social media desk on Twitter @MerPolCC or Facebook ‘Merseyside Police Contact Centre’ ref 203 on Saturday 17th June. You can also contact the independent charity Crime Stoppers anonymously by calling 0800 555 111 or via their online form at: https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/give-information.
A Merseyside Fire and Rescue spokesperson said: “Fire crews have been called to multiple fires in and around Claughton Road this morning, including house fires on Claughton Road, Birkenhead. Following a call to police fire control from Merseyside, crews were alerted at 4:55 a.m. and on scene at 5:01 a.m., with three fire engines assisting.
“Teams arrived and found two semi-detached houses with the ground floor of a burning pit. This fire had spread to the property next door. Two firefighters entered one house with rapid deployment, rescuing two people. Both were conscious and Three teams of two firefighters wearing breathing apparatus battled the largest fire on the property next door with hose reels while searching the property for occupants.
“Firefighters moved a third person to safety from a third property along the terrace to ensure their safety and evacuated other neighboring properties. The house fires are now extinguished and the people rescued at the scene are being treated by the North West Ambulance Service for smoke inhalation All persons have been accounted for.
“There have been a number of fires in the surrounding area, including wheelie bins and container fires. Merseyside Police are present.”
READ NEXT: