House fire being treated as 'targeted attack'

Firefighters, paramedics and police officers were called to a house fire in Portman Road, in Ipswich, this morning

A house fire which has left a family homeless and two people with leg fractures after they jumped out of an upstairs window is being treated as a "targeted attack".

Emergency services were called to a property in Portman Road, Ipswich, just before 05:20 BST today following reports it had gone up in flames.

Four people managed to escape the home uninjured, but a man and a woman were taken to Hospital after suffering serious leg injuries and smoke inhalation.

Suffolk Police said it was treating the incident as arson and a 24-year-old man from Felixstowe had been arrested in connection with the incident. He was taken to Martlesham Police Investigation Centre for questioning.

Fire crews were called in the early hours of Tuesday

Upon arrival at the scene, close to Ipswich Town’s football stadium, firefighters from the Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service found flames on the ground floor and first floor.

Four crews extinguished the fire without it spreading to other properties and 11 residents were evacuated from their homes.

Arrangements were made by Ipswich Borough Council to accommodate them in a refuge centre until it was safe for them to return.

A family has been left homeless

A Suffolk Police spokesperson said: "The incident is being treated as suspicious and initial police inquiries lead officers to believe that this was a localised and targeted attack.

"A police scene is currently in place around property."

Smoke was seen billowing from the house in Portman Road

Gina Gumble lives in a block of flats opposite the property which caught fire.

She said: “I woke up this morning and all I could hear was a lot of shouting, so I got up and looked outside and I could see flames coming out of the house.

“We also saw the flames coming through the roof, so we were concerned about whether everyone got out.

“It was a bit of a shock to wake up to.”

Resident Gina Gumble said she heard a lot of shouting as the fire broke out

Kevin Duggan lives next door to the house which caught fire.

He said: “I was half asleep but I heard commotion and a kid who was shouting all kinds of things like ‘help’ and ‘fire’.

“We saw fire trucks, police and ambulance and then I saw a massive amount of smoke coming from my neighbour’s garden.

“A police officer then knocked on out door and said we needed to evacuate. We have absolutely no idea [when we will be allowed back in].”

He added: “It’s not your everyday start to a morning but I am sorry for everyone who has been directly involved. It was scary."

Suffolk Police is now treating the fire as arson.

A spokesman for the force said: “Officers are appealing for any witnesses, or anyone who saw any suspicious behaviour in the area prior to the incident.

“Anyone with information is asked to contact South CID at Landmark House in Ipswich, quoting reference: 45775/24.”