Scenes of crime specialists and fire investigators have arrived at Westlake Avenue in Shanklin this morning (Monday) as Police continue to probe the cause of Saturday’s bungalow blaze, which is suspected to have been an arson attack.
Police have been keeping a scene guard outside the address throughout the weekend ahead of the arrival of mainland-based investigators.
As previously reported by Island Echo, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service was alerted to the incident at just before 04:15 on Saturday but the property was already well alight when firefighters arrived. This photograph, taken just as fire crews arrived, shows how well-developed the fire had become and appears to show that the blaze potentially started to the rear.
One local has told Island Echo that they were awoken by the sound of crackling and helped evacuated nearby residents.
4 breathing apparatus, 4 hose reel jets and 2 main jets were used to contain and extinguish the blaze, which has completely destroyed the detached bungalow.
Hampshire Constabulary says that it is treating the incident as suspicious. One line of investigation will no doubt be the property’s connection with local criminal, Ben Entwistle. Investigators will today be looking to identify the source of the fire and whether an accelerant was used.
Anything who saw anything suspicious in the area at the time is asked to call Police on 101, quoting 44220079151.
Why are the police wasting their resources on this scums house.
I agree with your sentiment about the scumbag. But arson is a crime and the Police investigate crimes!
Agree. But arson is a serious crime and they have to investigate. Was he not inside???
It would be a murder investigation if he was ♂️
Because it’s probably some poor landlord who has lost his investment or grandparents old home. Won’t affect Entwhistle as council will re- house him. He wasn’t home it stated.
I feel sorry for the neighbours, bad enough having a career criminal as a neighbour, but then to have to suffer the threats and reprisals from that person’s enemies is just unimagineable.
Crime constantly erodes the quality of life for honest and law abiding citizens, like a cancer.
The justice system needs beefing up to deter crime and to remove career criminals from circulation for a long time, including these arsonists, if it was arson.