Woman released from hospital after Tipton house fire that killed man and dog
A woman who was rescued from a house fire in the Black Country which killed a man has been discharged from hospital.
Flames tore through the terraced house in Tame Road, Tipton, on August 3 in a blaze which left a man and a dog dead, and a woman needing hospital treatment for smoke inhalation.
The man was later identified as 51-year-old Jason Hickinbottom. In a statement his family said: "There are no words that our family can use to describe the sadness and grief we feel at this time."
On Wednesday West Midlands Police confirmed the woman, believed to be in her 30s, who was pulled from the burning house by firefighters has been discharged a week after the blaze.
Two police officers passing the house were joined by neighbours in trying to help those trapped inside, but were forced back by the ferocity of the flames.
Six fire appliances attended the fire, with the first arriving in four minutes. Fire crews were confronted by a “significant” blaze in the first-floor bedroom of the mid-terrace home.
A 18-year-old woman – who is believed to have been known to both Mr Hickinbottom and the woman who was rescued – was arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life. She has been released on bail.
A spokesman for West Midlands Police said: "The woman is out of hospital and enquiries are continuing."
A woman who witnessed what happened after the fire break out said a neighbour clambered on to the flat roof of a porch and banged on a window to try to alert those inside the property.
The witness, who did not give her name, said: “There was smoke coming from the window and the back.
“Someone climbed on to the (porch) roof and was shouting.
“Then they (paramedics) were trying to help someone at the front and they put a tent up. It was just shocking.”
