Man arrested on suspicion of arson after crews deal with Walsall flat blaze

West Midlands Fire Service said crews from Walsall, Bloxwich and Wednesbury attended the scene at West Bromwich Street in the Caldmore area at around 12.25am today.

People were advised to avoid the area and the flat, which is situated above a shop, suffered some damage. A man inside the flat was led to safety as well as a family of six from a second flat.

Police have now confirmed a 36-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of arson and has been taken into custody for questioning.

A spokesman for West Midlands Police said: "We attended an address in West Bromwich Street, Walsall, following a fire at around 12.45am today.

"Damage was caused to a flat and a 36-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of arson.

"He has been taken into custody for questioning."

A spokesperson for West Midlands Fire Service said: "At 12.25am in the early hours of Friday we responded to a fire in a flat above a supermarket in West Bromwich Street, Palfrey. The first of our crews arrived three minutes after being mobilised. Three fire and engines and a 4x4 brigade response vehicle attended.

"This was a small fire in the kitchen of a second-floor flat, believed to have been started deliberately. Our crews wore breathing apparatus and used a hose reel to extinguish it. It was confirmed to be out by 1am.

"Firefighters led one man from the affected flat, and a family of six from a second flat, out of the building. The family were able to return to their home by 1.30am. A man was arrested by police on suspicion of arson. The last of our crews left the scene just before 2.45am."

They posted earlier on X, formerly Twitter: "We are currently dealing with a confirmed fire at a residential property in West Bromwich Street in the Palfrey area of Walsall.

"Fire appliances from Walsall, Bloxwich and Wednesbury are in attendance. Please avoid the area."

Samir Abdullah, 47, who works in the area, said: "I came in this morning and my neighbour told me he heard of a fire that happened on the street. When I got here at 9am though, nothing was here, I didn’t see anything myself. They were here earlier than that. My neighbour closed late last night and said it happened then while he was closing up."

Osman, 41, who also works in the area and is Samir's neighbour, said: "There was ambulance and two police cars here around 11/12pm. I saw them go around the back of Al Haram and that's it.

"I don't know exactly what happened, I only work here, I live elsewhere."