Arrest after Sandbach fire (From Crewe Guardian)

Arrest after Sandbach fire

2:59pm Friday 22nd June 2012 in News By Matthew Taylor

POLICE arrested a man on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life, after a fire in Sandbach that gutted the first floor flat above a computer shop on Congleton Road.

The 41-year-old man, local to Sandbach, was bailed until August 2, when police will conduct further interviews with him about the incident.

Roads were closed while firefighters from across the region tackled the blaze above the Laptop Shop from 2.15pm, on Wednesday, June 20.

A fire engine from Sandbach was joined by one from Crewe, one from Holmes Chapel, one from Winsford, as well as the cherry picker hose device from Macclesfield.

All parties in the building were accounted for.

A Fire Service spokesman said: “This was a particularly challenging incident for firefighters at the scene, as the first crew to arrive had to enter the property from a heavily secured rear area.

“Initially it was thought someone was in the flat, so firefighters wearing breathing apparatus carried out a swift and thorough search in very difficult conditions while a covering water jet was deployed at the front of the building.

“The crews had the fire under control before it spread through roofspace to neighbouring properties and before the aerial appliance arrived from Macclesfield.”

Crew manager John Brownrigg added: "Firefighters did a great job under very difficult conditions to contain the fire and prevent it from spreading to neighbouring properties."