Two weeks after a fire destroyed a row of six homes in Highters Heath, Birmingham, the cause of the blaze has still not been established, according to West Midlands Police. The force has renewed its appeal for witnesses as residents remain without answers.
The fire broke out on Daisy Farm park on Thursday, August 13, before quickly spreading to homes on Gorleston Road. Families were left without a roof over their heads after the inferno destroyed their homes and everything inside them.
Police investigation ongoing
Fire commander Peter Simmons, speaking to BirminghamLive the following morning, said the fire service was treating it as a "suspected" arson incident after speaking to people in the area. West Midlands Police launched an investigation into the incident but, two weeks on, has yet to establish the cause of the fire.
A force spokesperson told BirminghamLive: "The investigation into the cause of the fire is continuing and we're working with our colleagues at West Midlands Fire Service. Anyone with any information is asked to call 101 or contact us on the Live Chat option on our website quoting crime number 20/363976/26."
Residents describe devastation
At the time, residents described the devastating scenes as the fire spread rapidly through the homes. Andrew Reynolds, speaking to BirminghamLive outside his mum's home, which was destroyed in the fire, said nothing could be saved in the blaze.
"There's nothing left," said the 42-year-old. "Mum's lost everything more or less, to be honest. Everything's gone, it's all gone. My mum's lost everything."
The force is asking anyone who witnessed anything suspicious around the time of the fire, or who may have other information which could assist the investigation, to come forward.
