Man, 24, arrested over ‘arson attack’ on home that saw four kids taken to hospital

A MAN has been arrested on suspicion of arson after a fire resulted in four kids being taken to hospital.

The horrific incident happened in Middlesbrough early of hours of the morning, while the six people in the property were asleep.

Evening GazetteThe suspected arson happened at a property in Saltersgill, Middlesbrough[/caption]

Evening GazetteThe blaze left six people injured[/caption]

They were all rescued and taken to James Cook University Hospital after paramedics who happened to pass by spotted the blaze just before 6am on Saturday.

According to the BBC one of them was rescued by a ladder from an upper floor bedroom.

A spokesperson for Cleveland Police said: “A 24-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life and is in police custody.

“The arrest is in connection with a reported fire at around 5.48am on Saturday, February 5 in Woodville Avenue, Middlesbrough.

“All persons in the property, including four children, were safely evacuated from the house. The police investigation continues.”

Detective Inspector Rick Mansell from Cleveland Police said officers “have been carrying out door-to-door enquiries and patrols”.

“The occupants of the property were asleep at the time of this incident and thanks to those who raised the alarm, the emergency services were quickly at the scene,” he said.

“We’d appeal to anyone who saw anything or has any dashcam or CCTV which may assist us to contact police.”

A spokesperson for North East Ambulance Service said: “One of our ambulance crews came across a house fire in Woodville Avenue.

“We dispatched a further four ambulance crews and an officer and transported six patients to James Cook Hospital.”

Evening GazetteCops have launched an investigation into suspected arson[/caption]