Man, 43, arrested for arson after massive blaze erupts in block of flats, as 40 firefighters tackle flames
AN ALLEGED firestarter has been arrested after a blaze at a block of flats.
Around 40 firefighters were called to the building in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent this morning after flames were seen flickering through a window near the top floor.
No one was hurt in the horror just after 7am.
Cops said this afternoon that a 43-year-old man, who lives in Stoke-on-Trent, has been arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life.
He remains in custody.
Dermot Hogan, of Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service, said hero crews led residents to safety.
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"We evacuated the floor where the fire occurred and then the floor above," he said.
"We have had some external fire spread to the eleventh floor on the building.
"Then we progressively removed people from the floor below."
A structural engineer from the city council will visit the block to make sure it's safe for residents to return.
