Six taken to hospital and properties evacuated after suspected arson in South Shields

Six people were taken to hospital and properties had to be evacuated after a suspected arson in South Shields.

Police were alerted to a fire inside a property on Chatsworth Court shortly after 4am on Thursday 11 July.

Emergency services attended and the fire was extinguished a short time later.

A number of neighbouring properties were evacuated as a precaution.

Northumbria Police said six people were taken to hospital for treatment for injuries not deemed to be life-threatening.

South Tyneside Council staff are supporting those residents who continue to be affected by the fire.

An investigation is ongoing into the cause of the fire with support from the Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service.

Police are treating the fire as a suspected arson.

Officers and partners remain in the area to carry out inquiries and offer reassurance to residents. Anyone with concerns is encouraged to speak with an officer on duty.

A Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “We can confirm that five fire appliances attended a house fire in the early hours of this morning (Thursday 11th July) in South Shields, South Tyneside.

“The emergency call was received by our Control Team at 4.00 am and the appliances were dispatched from Hebburn, Marley Park, South Shields and Sunderland Central Community Fire Stations.

“The casualties involved in the incident had self-rescued from the property upon arrival of our crews. Once the fire had been extinguished our firefighters left the incident location and the police and ambulance service remained at the scene.”

Anyone with information should contact Northumbria Police by sending a private message on social media, visiting the live chat on their website or by completing a crime update form, quoting reference: NP-20240711-0129. Alternatively, call 101.

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