Kingsway flats fire in Cambridge was an arson attack, police believe
A flat fire in Cambridge on Sunday that claimed the lives of two pets and left one person needing hospital treatment is believed to have been started deliberately, police have said.
Detectives are asking if anyone saw suspicious behaviour or someone leaving the Kingsway flats in Arbury at around the time of the blaze, which started at about 3.30pm.
No arrests have yet been made.
Detective Inspector David Savill said: “The fire has disturbed the lives of those living in the area and we are working to establish the full circumstances around what took place.
“I am keen to hear from anyone who may have heard or seen anything in the area at the time, particularly anybody acting suspiciously or leaving the flats in a hurry.”
About 40 firefighters from Cambridgeshire and Suffolk attended the incident, which left the flat badly damaged and caused smoke damage elsewhere.
Residents of the block in Carlton Way were evacuated as fire crews got the blaze under control and prevented it from spreading.
Two people escaped via the rear balcony of the flat before crews arrived, while another was rescued from a first-floor window by firefighters using a ladder.
While one person was taken to hospital as a precaution, five others managed to evacuate the building themselves and were seen by ambulance crews.
A cat and a dog from another flat died from smoke inhalation, despite crews’ efforts to revive them using Smokey Paws pet oxygen equipment.
Cambridgeshire police described it as an “isolated incident” as they conducted a joint investigation with the fire service.
Anyone with information is urged to call 101 or report online via cambs.police.uk/report quoting crime reference number 35/30636/20.
The fire in Arbury comes a week after arsonists struck at Impington Village College.
Read more
Fire breaks out at Kingsway flats in Arbury, Cambridge
Arsonists to blame for Impington Village College fire, say Cambridgeshire police
Impington Village College principal ‘feared the worst’ when arsonists struck at school
