Five teens arrested over arson offences freed on bail as person still missing in house fire

FOUR boys and a girl aged between 13 and 15 arrested after a house fire in Bideford have been released on police bail.

- by STAFF REPORTERS

Crews fight the house fire in Honestone Street, Bideford

(Graham Hobbs)

One person remains unaccounted for following the fire at a two-storey terraced house in Honestone Street, which was reported around 8.30pm on Tuesday, October 28.

Detectives have confirmed a murder investigation has been launched but say they are “treating this as a suspicious incident with murder as one of several hypotheses being considered.”

The teenagers are all from North Devon and were arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life. A man in his 30s, from Bideford, was previously arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life and released on police bail. The next of kin of the unaccounted for man has been informed and is being supported by specially trained officers.

Around 45 residents were evacuated from their homes and moved into temporary accommodation while police conduct a forensic examination of the scene and engineers assess the damage to buildings.

Locals who live near the property spoke of seeing smoke and flames as the fire took hold.

Adele Carter, 54, said: “We saw all the smoke so we went out into the alleyway, it was just awful to see people in danger. It's a small community so you look out for people.”

Paul Nicholls, who lives close to Honestone Street, said smoke began to creep into his house. He said: “I saw some smoke while I was eating my dinner, I live about 200 yards away.