Man, 31, is arrested on suspicion of murder and arson after death at house fire
Up to FIVE people are missing and one person is dead after fire tore through Reading flats at 3am forcing screaming residents to leap from upstairs windows to escape: Police quiz man, 31, on suspicion of murder
One man described ‘miracle’ escape jumping from the third floor of Rowe Court in Grovelands Road, ReadingThames Valley Police has confirmed that one person died in the blaze, as residents said they smelled petrol Today, Superintendent Steve Raffield said it was ‘highly unlikely’ that any further survivors would be found Do you have information about the fire? Email rory.tingle@mailonline.co.uk
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Up to five people are still missing after a suspected arson attack on a block of flats which has claimed the life of at least one person.
Rescue teams were called to Rowe Court, off Grovelands Road, in Reading, Berkshire, after the blaze erupted just before 3am this morning, with neighbours hearing an explosion before flames tore through the block of flats.
One person was killed in the fire while four victims were treated in hospital and seven others were treated by paramedics at the scene.
Today, Superintendent Steve Raffield said it was ‘highly unlikely’ that any further survivors would be found inside the building.
It comes as a 31-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of arson and murder by officers and remains in custody.
Mr Raffield said: ‘We have been working alongside our partner agencies to do everything we can to find signs of life. Sadly it is highly unlikely we will find any further survivors in the building.’
Following the blaze, one resident described how he made a desperate leap from his third-floor flat after becoming trapped in the terrifying fire and said ‘I thought it was better to break my leg than die’.
He said: ‘I was involved in the incident – I live in the flat on the third floor of the building. I was woken up by an alarm and heard a loud explosion. I heard the people inside screaming and shouting – I think they were my neighbours.
‘I opened the door of my flat and saw a big cloud of smoke – and saw that the exit was trapped.
‘A firefighter then came in and told me the building was on fire and to leave it now, so I jumped out of the window and so did he – it’s about 12ft.
‘I landed OK but hurt my leg. I think the firefighter is in hospital, but I thought it was better to break my leg than die. I think it’s a miracle how it all happened.’
And Tom Price, 40, who lives in a nearby building, said: ‘All I heard was a massive explosion and saw smoke billowing from the flats.
‘People were leaping from their windows – I know one lady jumped from a high floor. There were screams and shouts and glass was being smashed.
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Forensic investigators are now examining this block of flats in Reading after it was gutted by a fire in the early hours of the morning
One man described his ‘miracle’ escape jumping from the third floor of Rowe Court in Grovelands Road, Reading, Berkshire, while other witnesses described a woman falling or jumping from the building
Today, Superintendent Steve Raffield said it was ‘highly unlikely’ that any further survivors would be found among the wreckage (pictured)
‘The flames went on for hours but the police and fire engines were here so quick.’
Four victims were treated in hospital while seven others were treated by paramedics at the scene.
It is not clear how many people were inside the block at the time of the blaze but an estate agent told MailOnline it contains up to 16 apartments.
Michael, 50, who lives opposite the building and did not wish to give his full name, told the PA news agency that the fire broke out in the side of the building.
‘I have a great view of the building and was woken at around 3am to all the commotion,’ he said.
‘I saw it pretty early on, the flames were coming from the side of the building and engulfed all the other flats and the roof.
‘People were shouting and screaming – it was chaotic.’
Emergency services remained at the scene today, with police, ambulance crews and firefighters working at the badly damaged building.
The force said the incident is not being treated as terror-related and urged people to avoid the area, where road closures are in place.
Another man who lives near the scene, who did not want to be named, told the PA news agency: ‘I’ve never seen so many police and fire engines in my life.
‘The building has been really badly damaged, parts of the roof have been torn off, windows are smashed and smoke has been coming out of it for hours.’
In a statement early this afternoon, Thames Valley Police said: ‘Police, fire and ambulance services remain at the scene of a large fire in Reading.
Thames Valley Police said one person died in the blaze at a property in Grovelands Road, Reading. A 31-year-old man suspect remains in custody
Specialist fire investigators are now at the scene. The Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service first tweeted about the incident at 3.51am
‘Officers were called at 2.56am today following a number of reports about the incident at a property in Rowe Court off Grovelands Road.
‘Sadly, one person has died as a result of this incident. A number of other people remain unaccounted for. A 31-year-old man from Reading has been arrested on suspicion of arson and murder, and is in custody.
‘We are working with our colleagues on a search and rescue operation and will exhaust all our efforts to find signs of life. We expect this phase of the operation to continue today and into the evening and perhaps beyond.
‘Three people have been taken to hospital so far, and these all have non-life-threatening injuries. An additional eight people were treated by the ambulance service at the scene.
‘A number of other people have been evacuated from the scene and are being cared for by the local authority and partners.’
Doug Buchanan from the Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service said firefighters had rescued one resident with a ladder, while another was talked to safety by a call handler.
The blaze early this morning. Neighbours living a short distance from the block of flats told of hearing shouting screaming soon after 3am
One resident said: ‘We could hear people shouting. There was a lady stuck in there waving a white hanky out the window. She was rescued by firefighters’
He said: ‘Our firefighters were able to rescue one of the residents from the building using a ladder, and our emergency call handlers gave fire survival advice to a resident that led them to safety, getting out of the property.’
The source of ignition of the fire is not yet clear.
In a statement from Reading Borough Council, council leader Jason Brock said: ‘I’m sure I speak on behalf of everybody in the Reading community when I say our thoughts and prayers are with anybody who is affected by the horrific fire off Grovelands Road this morning.
‘I know that there are also many in our community that want to offer their support too, and we will also communicate how this may be done appropriately as things develop.’
If you have any concerns about loved ones, you can report them here: Public Portal (mipp.police.uk) or by calling 0800 051 6079 or 020 7126 7641 from outside the UK.
