Police are asking the public for information regarding a block of flats catching fire in Christchurch which they believe was started deliberately.
The fire service alerted the police at 7.56pm on Tuesday 16 November to a fire that had broken out in a block of flats on Hunt Road. The communal hallway is believed to be where the blaze had started but no evidence has pointed towards anybody who could be responsible yet.
Some officers went to help the firefighters with evacuating the residents as the fire was extinguished, about five people needed to be checked over for inhaling smoke but luckily there was no permanent damage to their lungs and they were not in serious condition.
Chief Inspector Andy Bell, of Dorset Police, said: “The initial indication is that this fire is believed to have been started deliberately and we have launched an investigation to establish the full circumstances of what happened.”
The Police are asking anyone with information or who may have seen any suspicious behaviour around the flats to come forward and assist the investigation.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Dorset Police at www.dorset.police.uk/do-it-online/, via email 101@dorset.pnn.police.uk or by calling 101, quoting incident number 16:674. To stay anonymous, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers online at Crimestoppers-uk.org or call 0800 555 111.