Arson arrest following flat fire in Fratton this morning

Firefighters from across Portsmouth were called to the blaze at a block of flats on Goldsmith Avenue in the early hours of this morning.

Police said the 21-year-old man, from Portsmouth, had also been arrested on suspicion causing criminal damage.

He remains in police custody.

Six fire engines spent nearly two hours at the scene after the alarm was raised at 1.30am.

One resident, a 35-year-old who did not want to be named, said: ‘I didn’t hear any alarms early this morning but I popped out to check something with my car before I took the kids to school.

‘I saw the cordon and I was immediately worried for the people who live in the flat.

‘The windows and front door were both very black.

‘I’m very pleased to hear no one was hurt. I often talk to the other people here and everybody is always really nice.’

Police had taped off access to the flat and a police car was at the property this morning.

A spokesman from Southsea fire station said: ‘We were called to a ground floor fire at Outlook tower block at around 1.30am.

‘It was a severe fire and the flat was destroyed.

‘Fortunately nobody was in the property.’

Crews from Southsea, Cosham and Havant attended the scene using four breathing apparatus, four main jets and two hose reels.