A dramatic video shows the moment police rescued two people trapped in a burning building after a suspected arson attack.
Firearms officers spotted the fire at Villa Road, Lozells in Birmingham just before midnight on Sunday, West Midlands Police said. The officers alerted the fire brigade, before using a battering ram to break open the door to an adjacent building with people inside.
They then rushed in, urging everyone inside to escape. Officers also checked another property located above the fire but found no one was inside.
In the video, officers can be seen frantically breaking the door open using a hook and the battering ram.
Upon finally entering, one shouts “fire” repeatedly as he heads through the building, encouraging everyone to leave.
One of the police officers was sent to hospital with smoke inhalation, the force said.
Investigators say they’re treating the fire as arson and are appealing to anyone who saw what happened to get in touch.
They are understood to be going through CCTV and carrying out door-to-door enquiries in the area.
DS David Newson, from Birmingham CID, said: “This fire had the potential to have really serious consequences.
“Thankfully, the quick-thinking response of officers in the face of danger to themselves got the two residents to safety.
“We are working with our colleagues at WMFS Fire Investigation Team and would like to hear from local people as we try to build a picture of what has happened.
“Villa Road is a main route and we’d ask anyone who was driving along it between 11pm and midnight time, to take a look at any dashcam they may have, as it could hold vital evidence for our investigation.”
