Fresh appeal for help after fireworks explode for two minutes inside home, leaving man fighting for life
Police are appealing for information to help trace an arsonist who let a firework off inside a home, leaving a man fighting for his life.
A 56-year-old man remains in an induced coma in hospital after suffering serious burns and smoke inhalation following a fire at an address in Tile Cross, Birmingham, last week.
It is believed the fire, which also left a 56-year-old woman with fractured lower limbs, was started by a firework – which could have been going off for as long as two minutes.
West Midlands Police is now hoping to trace where the firework was bought from in an attempt to track down the arsonist.
Detective chief inspector Sarah Burton said: "The firework found inside the property was a multi-shot commercial sized box shaped firework. It is approximately 2ft x 1ft in size and a considerable weight. It contained around 200 tubes and once ignited would have lasted for around two minutes.
"This type of firework is designed for an outdoor public display in a field or similar open space, so the impact in a small house would have been absolutely terrifying. The house set alight immediately and the blaze spread quickly throughout the open plan property.
"We are keen to speak to any retailers who have sold this type of firework recently and anyone who knows of someone who had anything of this size in their possession.
"We are still trying to understand why this couple were targeted and would ask anyone with any information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to contact us."
Force CID can be contact on 101 or information can be given to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
