A woman had to flee her home after being targeted in an arson attack

August 13, 2012, 2:39 pm

A woman had to flee her home after being targeted in an arson attack.

It happened at the 68-year-old woman’s home on Albion Close, Heaton Norris, at about 11.15pm on Sunday 29 July 2012.

She was in bed when she was awoken by the smoke alarm going off. She then saw the front of her house was on fire and fled through the back door to safety.

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Firefighters attended and extinguished the blaze, which caused significant damage to the front of her home, windows and doors.

Initial inquiries have established that it is believed waste bins, which are normally housed in a brick-built storeroom at the front of the house, had been moved, pushed directly in front of the front door and set alight.

Police are now appealing to anyone with information to come forward and have launched a joint investigation with the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service.

Detective Constable Gareth Mason said: “What this appalling incident shows is the value of having a fitted, working smoke alarm. Had it not been for that, this woman could have been seriously injured or possibly killed.

“What this also demonstrates is just how dangerous messing around with fire can be. No human being can control a fire, and we have also seen the tragic consequences of wheelie bin fires – people have lost their lives and families devastated – so it is absolutely vital we find the offenders.

“We do not know why this woman’s home was targeted but clearly we need to find the person or persons responsible so we can help this victim make sense of what has happened and get justice for her.

“I would appeal to anyone who has information about what happened to come forward.”

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 0161 856 9823 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.