Chorley man charged with arson after fire leaves family trapped inside their burning home

Police say Sean Fisher, from Devonport Way, Chorley, was arrested yesterday afternoon (Sunday, August 23) at an address in Chorley.

The 25-year-old had been wanted in connection with an arson investigation after a family home in Vicarage Street, near Erskine Road park, caught fire at around 3.10am on June 24.

Three people were found trapped inside one of the upstairs rooms when firefighters arrived, as flames were tearing through the bottom floor of the building.

The terrified family were rescued by firefighters who smashed through an upstairs window, before the casualties were passed into the care of paramedics.

Following a joint investigation by Lancashire Police and Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service, the cause of the fire was deemed to have been deliberate.

A week after the fire, Lancashire Police issued an appeal to help find Sean Fisher after he was identified as a suspect in the arson investigation.

Today, a police spokesman said: "We can now confirm that Sean Fisher, 25, from Devonport Way, Chorley was arrested on suspicion of arson yesterday (August 23).

"He has since been charged with arson and is due to appear before Preston Magistrates this morning (Monday, August 24)."