A fire has ripped through three unoccupied terrace homes in East Cowes this evening, leaving two completely destroyed and one severely damaged.
Fire crews were called shortly after 17:20 to reports of three new-development homes well alight at Church Path in the centre of the town, in a fire that could have been prevented.
In a shocking twist, Island Echo can exclusively reveal that youths set the buildings alight just moments before a security guard arrived on site, who was delayed by several festival buses – Another victim of this years Isle of Wight Festival.
Thanks to the Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service’s planning, neighbouring properties were saved from the same fate as crews manned East Cowes station today, a station normally operated on a retained basis. The station was crewed by 5 firefighters for such an incident, as it is taking firefighters from Newport 20 minutes to arrive on scene due to the Festival road closures.
Appliances from East Cowes, Newport and Ryde attended the scene and managed to extinguish the blaze shortly before 19:00.
No one has been injured in the arson attack.
An investigation into the incident has been launched by Police. Sniffer dogs were seen entering the site shortly before 20:30 this evening.
Fire crews have left the scene.
