Two young women have died and another is seriously injured following a house fire in Wolverhampton.
The women were declared dead at the scene and two men, aged 19, and 22, have been arrested on suspicion of murder after the blaze swept through the home in Dunstall Hill, Wolverhampton.
Firefighters spent approximately one hour tackling the fire at the end-terrace property on a cul-de-sac after receiving a call at around 2am.
The other woman remains in critical condition at the hospital while the two men face quesitoning by police.
In a statement, West Midlands Police said: ‘We’ve arrested two men on suspicion of murder after two women have died following a house fire in Wolverhampton this morning (May 11).
‘We were called to Dunstall Hill, alongside other emergency services, just before 2am. Two women, understood to be in their early 20s, were tragically confirmed dead at the scene and our thoughts are with their loved ones at this terrible time.
‘Three men and a woman were taken to hospital, with the woman currently in a critical condition. Following initial enquiries we’ve arrested two men, aged 19 and 22.
‘The men, who are understood to be known to the women, will now be questioned. We’re working with fire service colleagues to establish the cause of the fire and a scene currently remains in place.’
Around 20 firefighters attended the scene and spent around an hour tackling the blaze. A spokesperson said they were ‘saddened’ by the deaths.
West Midlands Fire and Rescue said: ‘We are extremely saddened by the deaths of two people following a fire at a house in Wolverhampton.
‘Our thoughts and sympathies are with everyone affected by this terrible incident. We understand that three other people were taken to hospital, and that a sixth was discharged at the scene by the ambulance service.
‘At 1.58am in the early hours of Saturday 11 May, we responded to Dunstall Hill, Wolverhampton. Three fire engines and two 4×4 brigade response vehicles attended, crewed by 20 firefighters from Wolverhampton, Fallings Park, Tipton and Bilston fire stations. The first were at the scene three minutes after being mobilised.
‘They arrived to find a severe fire in an end-terrace property, from which four people had managed to escape. Several firefighters wearing breathing apparatus entered the property. Very sadly, the bodies of two people were found inside.
‘The fire was confirmed to have been extinguished shortly before 3am. Our investigators will be working with West Midlands Police to establish exactly how the fire started.’
Dunstall Hill is an inner-city area of Wolverhampton, approximately two miles from the city centre. (Metro)