FOUR HOUSES DAMAGED BY FIRE ON THE EAST MARSH – WHERE ARE YOUR KIDS TONIGHT?

FOUR houses were damaged by fire in a suspected arson attack in Grimsby's Guildford Street.

The blaze, which tore through the unoccupied properties on Saturday evening, has prompted fire chiefs to warn about the dangers of entering vacant buildings.

Humberside Fire and Rescue watch manager Stuart Axcell believes the fire may have been started by youths who had entered one of the homes – prising their way in through boarded-up doors and windows.

He said: "It is only a matter of time before somebody is hurt. "I believe there has been a number of fires in unoccupied properties on this street and the message from us is clear, people shouldn't be entering them."

Four crews from Grimsby's Peaks Lane and Cromwell Road fire stations extinguished the blaze and used a hydraulic platform. Residents reported seeing smoke pouring through the roof of the four properties for more than an hour.

One homeowner, who was too afraid to be named in case her property is targeted, said: "The house where the fire started is empty now, but it was set on fire last year when there were people living in it.

"I've never seen so much smoke in my life. It was coming out of the roof and you couldn't see down the road."One of the window boards blew off one house and the firemen had to kick in a door to put it out."

The fire gutted one property, while the other three were damaged by smoke and heat. Watch manager Neil Knight confirmed the fire had started on the first floor of one of the properties. He said: "I came to a fire at one of the houses last year and two dogs died from smoke inhalation.

"We would discourage anybody from entering empty properties because they are in a state of disrepair. "As reported, a consultation is being carried out into the possible demolition of properties on Guildford Street for the redevelopment of the area.

Following a number of fires in the street – the last on May 18 – Humberside Fire and Rescue Service has been fitting smoke alarms to the homes that are still occupied.

Anybody with any information about the fires on Guildford Street should call Humberside Police on 0845 6060222 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

More information on smoke alarms can be found at www.fireservice.co.uk/safety/smokealarms.php

If you are a resident and would like a home fire safety check, call (01472) 372500