Dog dies in devastating fire

Tenants were today counting the cost of a Black Country flat fire which killed a dog.

Badly-burned property belonging to the 37-year-old occupant of the flat where the fire happened last night was on the lawn of the boarded-up property this morning.

The man, named locally as Matthew Powell, was not at home today but is understood to be mourning the death of his dog, a Staffordshire bull terrier cross-breed called Jess.

Upstairs neighbour Craig Turner, 30, who had treatment for smoke inhalation, along with fiancee Michelle Davies, 26, said: "The smoke was so thick, it felt like acid in your throat."

Mr Powell and the occupant, 35, of another downstairs flat were treated for smoke inhalation.

Wednesbury fire station Watch Commander David Newman said the block was heavily smoke-damaged and the bedroom of a ground floor flat gutted. "The fire has been caused by the careless disposal of a cigarette."