A MURDER inquiry has been launched after a man died in a house fire.

As reported on this website throughout yesterday, police have arrested one man and a teenage boy in connection with the fire at The Glade, Malvern, which is being treated as arson.

The fire started at about 1.30am yesterday and claimed the life of 37-year-old Richard Perkins. His wife and two of his stepchildren remain in hospital.

Thirty firefighters from Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Servcice tackled the blaze, which ripped through the terraced house.

Alec Mackie, spokesman for the fire service, said: “It was really going quite fiercely when crews arrived. Flames 10ft high were leaping out of the bedroom windows.”

Four residents had managed to escape the inferno.

Forty-year-old Roseann Perkins and her daughter Katie, aged 17, climbed out of a bedroom window.

As your Worcester News went to press the teenager was in a critical condition and fighting for her life at Worcestershire Royal Hospital and her mother was in a serious condition.

Two of Mrs Perkins’ sons, 18-year-old Ben and Shaun, aged 22, also escaped.

Ben broke his ankle as he jumped from a first-floor bedroom window and was being treated at hospital for smoke inhalation. He was described as being in a serious condition.

Shaun Perkins was treated for smoke inhalation and later released from hospital.

However, Richard Perkins, was unable to escape and was found dead by firefighters in a bedroom.

Three Staffordshire bull terrier puppies also died.

The house, which has been gutted by the fire, is owned by Festival Housing and a spokesman for the company said: “Obviously, this is a tragic incident. At the moment we are attending the scene to ascertain what can be done to help the family over the following days."

A police cordon surrounds the house, which is being treated as a crime scene.

Fire investigators attended yesterday to try and discover the cause of the blaze.

The two people arrested on suspicion of murder remain in custody and are being questioned by detectives.

Detective Superintendent Andy Rowsell, head of West Mercia police’s major incident unit, said: “We are in the early stages of this major investigation and we would like to hear from anyone who has information which they think may be useful to the enquiry.”

Police want anyone who was in the area between 9.30pm on Sunday and 2am yesterday to call 08457 444888 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

Mr Rowsell said: “Do not assume others will call. Your information may be vital in piecing together what happened.”

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