Cops arson probe after family flee from blaze
POLICE are investigating after a suspected arson attack. Emergency services were called Craig Road, Heaton Mersey, just after 4am on Tuesday February 14 after flames spread from a car to a house.
An adult and three children were in the house at the time, fire crews confirmed, however they managed to escape before firefighters arrived and fortunately no one was injured.
Photographs from the scene show extensive damage to a car parked on a driveway, as well as some superficial damage to the front of a house.
Detectives have described the incident as “deliberate and targeted” and said that two men were spotted running away towards Valewood Avenue, following the incident.
Detective Inspector Michael Jimenez of GMP’s Stockport district, said: “This was a deliberate and targeted act that fortunately didn’t result in any injuries of anyone in the property. Specialist officers are working with the family to support them throughout this investigation to ensure the people responsible for this attack are brought to justice.
“We are keen to speak to two men who were sighted in the locality of the property around 4.08am running in the direction of Valewood Avenue. If you saw these two men or have any CCTV or doorbell footage or information that might help us identify these two men or the events leading up to this attack, please get in touch with us directly.
“I would also like to reassure members of the public that this is an isolated incident with no further risk to the wider public and we are carrying out extensive enquiries to determine the circumstances surrounding this incident.”
A spokesman for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) added: “At around 4am this morning (Tuesday 14 February) we were called to reports of a fire which had spread from a car to the ground floor of a detached house on Craig Road, Heaton Mersey. Three fire engines from Withington, Whitehill and Stockport fire stations were quickly dispatched to the scene.
“One adult and three children had made it out of the property prior to crews’ arrival, and firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used two hose reels and a positive pressure ventilation fan to tackle the flames and clear smoke from the house to make the area safe. GMFRS crews were in attendance for around an hour.”
If you have any information, contact GMP using the LiveChat facility of their website, or by calling 0161 856 9790, quoting incident reference 374 of 14/02/2023. Details can also be passed anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.