Fire investigators have found that a fire at a domestic garage in Stoke-on-Trent last night was started deliberately.

Fortunately, there was no car in the garage as it was parked outside as the building was being used as a tool shed or workshop. Thanks to the neighbour’s quick actions in alerting the householder and using the garden hose, the damage caused by the fire was a lot less serious than it might have been.

Two crews from Longton attended the incident at the detached garage at a house on Charnwood Road, Meir on Monday, January 28, at 11.37pm. 

The occupants were alerted to the blaze by a neighbour who helped use a garden hose to tackle it until crews arrived. Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus extinguished it using a hose reel jet. 

Fire Safety Manager Kelvin Knapper said: “A joint investigation this morning with police crime scene investigators established that the fire had been started deliberately. 

“Fortunately, there was no car in the garage as it was parked outside as the building was being used as a tool shed or workshop. Thanks to the neighbour’s quick actions in alerting the householder and using the garden hose, the damage caused by the fire was a lot less serious than it might have been. 

“Luckily, no one was injured but two people at the property were handed into the care of West Midlands Ambulance Service to be assessed for the effects of smoke inhalation.”