'I heard shouting then saw plumes of smoke': Resident recalls deadly Wolverhampton house fire

The blaze killed a 26-year-old man, prompting West Midlands Police to launch a murder investigation, while a 52-year-old woman has been left with life-changing burns and a 16-year-old boy remained in a life-threatening condition on Tuesday afternoon

The area around Plascom Road was cordoned off by police from the junction with Coalport Road to the area next to East Park on the junction with Parklands Road while forensic teams worked at the scene, with a number of police cars and officers visible throughout the street.

On nearby Astbury Close, one resident said he had been in bed at around 1am and had heard shouting from Plascom Road, and described the scene he saw when he opened the curtains.

He said: "We have the bedroom windows open as it was very warm last night and I heard someone shouting and a dog barking and thought it was because the warm weather was back and people were outside and something had kicked off.

"I looked outside and that's when I saw the plumes of smoke and then saw the lights from the fire and ambulance and police.

"I saw the smoke continuing to rise and then it all went very quiet except for the emergency services vehicles."

The resident, who asked not to be named, said he had seen some cars on fire on nearby streets before, but had never seen a house blaze and spoke of his own worry about where it was at the time.

He said: "It was a worry because I didn't know where it was and the wife had a look to see if it was near the school, but the angles were all wrong for me and I thought it might be nearer this street.

"It all seemed to calm down a few hours later, although the dog was still barking until 4am, but I had heard about people being taken to hospital and it made me realise how serious it was.

"My wife was down at St Matthew's Church and they've all been praying for the people in that house."

The house still carried a smell of burning hours after the fire, with the windows and front door blackened and burnt.

Other residents on Astbury Close expressed their shock.

One said: "I heard about it this morning when I was out with my baby and saw the house, then my mum told me what happened.

"I'm shocked that this has happened near my home."

Another added: "I've only just found out about the fire and it's awful to hear about as it's happened so near to my home.

"This isn't a particularly tight-knit community and we don't really talk to each other, but people have been asking about the fire and what happened."

A spokesman for West Midlands Police said: "We’ve launched a murder investigation after one person died and four others were injured in a fire at a home in Wolverhampton today.

"Officers were called to Plascom Road at just after 1.10am along with colleagues from other emergency services.

"Five people who were in the property at the time were taken to hospital after being treated at the scene by paramedics and officers, who administered CPR at the scene.

"One man aged 26 sadly died in hospital this morning, while a 16-year-old boy is in a life-threatening condition.

"A third person, a woman aged 52, suffered life-changing burns.

"Two other men, one in his 50s and a second in his 20s, have been discharged following treatment at hospital."

Supt Martin Hurcomb, of Wolverhampton Police, said: “This is a tragic incident which has resulted in one person losing their life, and four others being hurt.

“We’re working flat out to understand what happened and why, and who was responsible.

“Forensic experts are examining the scene and the cordon is expected to remain in place for the rest of the day.

“Officers will be in the area over the coming days to offer reassurance, while detectives are also in the area to speak to witnesses and gather CCTV.”

Anyone with any information can contact us via Live Chat on our website or call 101, quoting log 218 of 25 June.