A 40-YEAR-OLD man has appeared in court accused of arson after a fire in a busy Worcester street earlier this month.
Luke Holder, of no fixed abode, is accused of arson with recklessness as to whether life was endangered.
Holder is accused of committing the arson in The Butts on February 13 and the arson being reckless as to whether property would be destroyed and being reckless as to whether life would be endangered.
Holder entered no plea when he appeared at Kidderminster Magistrates Court on February 15.
Magistrates sent the case to the higher Worcester Crown Court.
The next hearing, when Holder is expected to enter a plea, was scheduled to take place on Thursday, March 14.
As previously reported The Butts was closed for several hours while fire crews tackled a blaze on a second-floor flat in a three-storey building.
The flat was destroyed, with the fire damaging 75 per cent and smoke damaging 100 per cent of the flat.
All the people inside the flat at the time of the fire were accounted for and had no injuries.
An eyewitness said: "I walked past at 6.05pm. Two fire engines, three police cars, a lot of thick black smoke."
Another eyewitness said they faced a gust of smoke while walking down the street.
A spokesperson for Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service said: "Four HWFR crews – three from Worcester and one from Malvern Fire Stations – were called at 5.46pm on February 13 to a fire with persons reported at The Butts in Worcester.
"The fire involved a second floor flat in a three-storey block with 75 per cent of the second floor damaged by fire and 100 per cent smoke damaged.
"The fire was extinguished by eight firefighters wearing breathing apparatus using two hosereel jets, one main jet and a covering jet.
"A 9m ladder, a short extension ladder and small tools were all used.
"All persons were accounted for and electrics were isolated.
"There were no casualties.
"Police were also in attendance.
"The incident was marked as pending closure at 11.15pm."
The Butts reopened just after 10.30pm that night.
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