Bilston house fire: Hero 'saves life of neighbour' in arson blaze

Josh Aldridge rushed to the rescue after flames swept through the next door property in Station Road, Bradley, at around 10pm on Sunday.

The 21-year-old said: "I looked out of the window after hearing a loud bang and saw my neighbour's house was on fire.

"He was standing outside but was back inside by the time I got there.

"I went in after him and found him sitting in the corner of the living room.

"The furniture was on fire. The whole place went up in seconds. It was very smoky and hot. I realised that I did not have much time, grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and pulled him out.

"He said that one of his dogs was still inside and so I tried to go back inside again but it was too dangerous."

Friends said 37-year-old father-of-four Simko Ahmad had lived alone in the house for the past few months after his wife and children moved out.

The dog, a seven-week-old Shar Pei called Boxer, was rescued by a firefighter wearing breathing apparatus and is making a good recovery. The fire is being treated as arson. Watch Commander John Wildman, from Bilston fire station, who attended with colleagues from Wednesbury, said: "When we arrived flames were coming out of the back widow and licking up the wall. The occupant was outside the property by this time.

"We got his puppy out safely along with a second dog that was in the back garden. The downstairs of the house was severely damaged and the rest was heavily smoke logged."

West Midlands Police spokeswoman Lara Horsley said: "We were called at just after 10pm on Sunday night to reports of a fire that caused significant damage, but no-one was injured.

"It is being treated as arson and a 37-year-old man remains in police custody."