Couple’s terror after garden wrecked in arson attack
A fire that was started deliberately destroyed a shed and fencing in a couple’s back garden and left them ‘terrified’ to live in their own home.
Russell Priest, aged 60, and Colleen Priest, 51, had guests at their house in Bank Street, Bradley, near Bilston, at 5pm last Monday when the blaze started in their garden, destroying their fence, shed and the equipment inside.
Investigations into the cause are still underway but West Midlands Fire Service believes it was deliberate and the couple, who have lived in the house since 1983, are appealing for anyone with information to tell the police.
Mr Priest said: “We had a couple of friends around and we left the patio door open then suddenly we could hear a crackling noise. We thought it was hail on the roof but then I walked out and saw the fire.
“My first reaction was to save my equipment and power tools in the shed and as I got close I could see the flames and they were getting larger. I could hear my wife and friends screaming ‘get away’.
“We got the hose pipe on it to try and stop it from getting worse and I got burned on my hands and back but thankfully nothing serious. Within five minutes, the garden was destroyed.
“The damage it caused and how fast it went up - it was unbelievable.
“We have had problems with anti-social behaviour here over the years because we live next to a public right of way. We have been trying to get some kind of security and we even tried to close the oath but the council refused.
“Young people spend time around there and leave behinds beer cans. People should know setting fires is dangerous.
“We are afraid it could happen again. My wife is terrified to be in our own home, we fear they will come back.”
A West Midlands Fire Service spokesman said: “We were called to the scene at 5.05pm from a 999 call.
“We sent two crews to the scene including a brigade response and a fire engine from Dudley.
“It was a severe fire involving eight bushes, the garden fence, five conifers, and it spread to a timber garden shed in the property.
“Three firefighters used hose reel jets to tackle the blaze.
“It is believed to have been started in the bushes adjacent which spread into the garden. We believe it to have been started deliberately.”
