AN ARSON probe has been launched by police after a terraced house was set ablaze in central Blackpool.
Firefighters were called to the property, in Percy Street, at around 1am yesterday after initial reports there were people trapped inside.
It later transpired the house was unoccupied.
Four firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used a hose to tackle the flames.
A police spokesman confirmed the incident was being treated as suspicious.
He said: “An unknown offender deliberately started the fire at the unoccupied terraced house.”
The fire caused damage to a mattress and smoke damage to the property.
Two fire crews from Blackpool and one from South Shore were called to a separate incident in central Blackpool at around 4.25am yesterday.
A semi-detached house in Caunce Street was left severely damaged after a faulty plug caught fire.
Andrew Jones, crew manager at Blackpool fire station, said: “Six firefighters tackled the blaze with two hoses.
“There was nobody in the property at the time but the fire caused severe damage to the living room and severe damage by smoke to the rest of the building.
“There were no smoke detectors found within the building and we can’t stress the importance of people having these fitted, because they really can save lives.”
Anyone with information about the suspicious blaze on Percy Street is asked to call Lancashire Police one 101.
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