Two people have been arrested on suspicion of arson following a large fire in Staffordshire that spread to four homes. Police confirmed that a 23-year-old man and a 24-year-old woman, both from Stoke-on-Trent, were detained on Friday, August 14, after the blaze broke out at the back of Maureen Avenue in the Goldenhill area.
The fire was reported shortly before 4.15pm on Thursday, August 13, when Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service responded to a grass fire that was spreading quickly. Firefighters worked to control the flames as they affected four properties and a number of gardens, with the incident eventually brought under control.
Investigation leads to arrests
Detective Inspector Emma Kempson of Staffordshire Police said: “We are continuing to work at pace to investigate the circumstances surrounding yesterday’s fire, which has culminated in the arrests today.” She added that the investigation is part of a wider response to a recent surge in fires across the county.
The two individuals were arrested earlier on Friday morning following overnight enquiries. Police have not released further details about their identities or the specific nature of the suspected arson.
Support for affected residents
In the wake of the fire, a support centre was established at Goldenhill Community Centre on Drummond Street to assist evacuated individuals and others affected. The location was later moved to Goldenhill Working Men’s Club on Mobberley Road, with Staffordshire Police working alongside Stoke-on-Trent City Council to provide assistance.
DI Kempson reassured the local community: “We’ve still got a number of officers in the area today and I can assure the local community we are actively working to investigate this surge in recent fires across Staffordshire.”
Police appeal for information
A spokesperson for Staffordshire Police confirmed the arrests and urged anyone with information to come forward. They said: “If you have any information that could help with our investigation, please get in touch by calling 101 or using Live Chat on our website, quoting incident 624 of 13 August.”
Alternatively, members of the public can report anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. The investigation continues as police work to establish the full circumstances of the fire and address the recent series of incidents.
