Couple arrested over flats fire get bail (From The Oxford Times)

Couple arrested over Oxford flats fire get bail

9:10am Saturday 23rd February 2013 in News

A MAN and woman arrested on suspicion of causing arson with intent after a large flat fire in north Oxford were released on bail yesterday.

The fire forced residents in the three-storey block of about 30 flats in Hawksmoor Road, Cutteslowe, to flee their homes on Thursday.

Police originally said two men were arrested but yesterday corrected their statement, saying it was actually a man and woman.

They were bailed until next month after being questioned.

The fire directly affected 12 Oxford City Council flats and five were so badly damaged the tenants had to be temporarily rehoused. The police investigation is ongoing.

Meanwhile, officers yesterday closed their inquiry into a fatal fire in Thame.

A 62-year-old mother-of-three died after a blaze at her home in Greenway at 3.25pm on Wednesday.

Christine Fullwood was pronounced dead at the scene.

Thames Valley Police spokesman Elizabeth Hill said: “We believe it was caused by a cigarette. The case has been passed on the coroner because police are not treating the fire as suspicious.”

Yesterday, an inquest into the death of Mrs Fullwood had not been yet opened by the coroner.