Dudley arsonist doused woman in petrol before starting house fire

Neighbours spoke of screams and reports of a gunshot as the woman, aged 42, and two boys aged nine and 15 escaped seconds before the fire took hold.

But the man, who was in his 40s, could not be saved. Witnesses said they heard screaming coming from the house in Dudley moments before seeing flames in the windows.

Some described how they saw the woman, covered in petrol, running from the house with the children and fleeing down Wood Street, in the Holly Hall area.

Firefighters and police were called to the street at 6.10pm on Saturday. Nearby houses were evacuated and residents across the street were told to stay indoors until firefighters had extinguished the blaze.

The woman and children, who police say have been left 'badly traumatised' were taken to hospital as a precaution. They are now being looked after by specially trained officers.

Police closed the road as structural engineers worked to make the house safe for investigators to enter amid fears it could collapse. They said the fire damage which was on both the ground floor and first floor had left the property in a 'dangerous state'.

The road reopened yesterday morning and West Midlands Fire Service's fire research and investigation team remained at the scene for most of the day. Two police tents were set up in front of the house.

Forensics teams were brought in along with the fire service dog team which searched the property to ensure it was safe for crews to work. Detective Inspector Simon Astle said officers were not looking for anyone else in connection with the fire.

He added: "This was a major fire, started deliberately, which has claimed a man's life and was so fierce that the property has been left in a dangerous state. A woman and her two sons, who we believe were known to the man, have been left badly traumatised by what has happened. Fortunately, none were seriously injured. All three are being supported by specially trained officers, and our investigation is well under way."

Police are also investigating reports of gunshots being heard but say there is no evidence of a gun being used so far. The man is yet to be formally identified and a post mortem examination is due to take place in the coming days.

Residents said the man worked as a mechanic at a garage in Netherton and would often be working on cars outside the house, which is a short distance from a row of shops and the New Testament Church of God. Paula Dunkerley, 49, who lives opposite the fire-ravaged house, said she was shocked by what had happened.

"I heard screaming so I looked outside my front window and saw flames at the windows and saw the woman run out with the children.

"They ran down the road. Then the police and fire engines came. I went outside to see if I could help but a policeman shouted at me to go back indoors. The flames were very high and they were keeping people away.

"I've never known anything like this happen here before. It's awful.

"He had doused the woman with petrol and set fire to the house. I don't whether he meant to kill himself. I didn't really know the man but I used to let him park his car outside my flat. He was always working on cars."

Jason Ingram, 42, who also lives in Wood Street, said: "I've lived here almost all my life and I'm just shell-shocked. It must have been horrible for them. People have said that he doused the woman with petrol and the rest of the house. You can see how big the fire was from the damage – the woman and children were lucky to get out alive. It could have been a lot worse."

Flooring apprentice Josh Craven, 19, of Hallchurch Road, said: "I was walking home from my mate's house and saw all the fire engines and police cars. The fire was out then. I was told a woman and her children had got out of the house but the man wasn't so lucky. It must be horrible to see your house go up in flames and not be able to do anything about it."

Firefighters from Brierley Hill and Dudley tackled the blaze. Members of West Midlands Ambulance's Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) were also called to the scene. Police carried out door-to-door inquiries and spoke to witnesses. They also stepped up patrols on Saturday night and yesterday morning.

Anyone with information should call police on 101.