Gosport properties suffered 'significant damage' in shed fire as police give arson response
A shed fire spread to nearby properties
Several properties suffered “significant damage” following a blaze in Gosport on Tuesday evening.
Flames erupted from a shed and “quickly spread” to other properties in The Crossways, as reported. Emergency crews rushed to the scene and used jets and hose reels to quench the blaze.
The fire started in a shed before setting alight outbuildings nearby, including a conservatory. No injuries were reported from the scene.
Now Gosport Police have said there will not be a criminal investigation and thanked firefighters for their “swift and professional actions” which “quickly brought (the fire) under control, preventing it from spreading further”. But police added: “Unfortunately, several residents have suffered significant damage to their homes.”
Gosport Police went on to say: “We would like to thank local residents and road users for their patience and understanding while Crossways was closed for a prolonged period.
“The closure was necessary for several important reasons: To ensure fire crews could work safely and effectively without additional risk, to protect the public from the dangers posed by the fire, smoke and the potential explosion of pressurised containers, and to allow specialist examinations to take place to establish the cause of the fire and determine whether a criminal investigation is required (in this case, there will not be a criminal investigation).
“We understand the disruption that road closures can cause and would like to reassure the public that they are always kept to the minimum necessary. However, the safety of the public and emergency service colleagues must remain our priority. Thank you for your understanding.”