Egham Hythe bungalow destroyed by arsonists

Initially, crews from Chertsey, Staines and Egham attend the scene after being told that someone might be inside.

Four firefighters used breathing apparatus to enter and tackle the flames, but the building was found to be empty.

Staines firefighter, Richard Whale, said: "Initially it was difficult, as it was dark, and the crews had to battle their way through the property."

The fire was brought under control shortly after 6.30pm but the firefighters did not leave the property until 10.30pm.

The property became empty when the owner, an elderly lady, died just over a year ago. But a neighbour on Chertsey Lane, said he had recently seen a woman coming and going from the home.

He said: "I saw all the fire engines and the police and wondered what was going on.
"We had the feeling that someone had been living in there as we had seen people coming and going in an out every once in a while."

John Blake and Walter Richardson, of Riverside Drive, Staines, were sitting in Mr Richardson's house with another neighbour over the River Thames and opposite the bungalow, when the fire started.

Mr Richardson first saw the flames and alerted his friends, and it was Mr Blake who rang the fire department.

Mr Blake said: "We were all sitting down having a drink, and then Walter said he could see flames. At first I didn't think anything but then I heard a loud bang and saw the flames go up more than 20 feet in the air, so I thought must have been a petrol job.

"I haven't seen anyone living there for a while, but up until a year ago there was an old lady living there.

"I phoned the fire brigade and they came very quickly and were very efficient and put the flames out quickly."

Mr Richardson said: "At first I thought it was some idiot burning rubbish but then the flames went whoosh and reached higher than the trees, one of which was very tall."

A resident from Ferry Avenue, opposite the bungalow in Egham Hythe, said: "We didn't see the fire, but we saw all the police tape this morning and thought that someone had been murdered.

"There's been people living in there, doing drink and drugs. The police know all about it."

Police are currently treating the incident as suspicious whilst investigations to establish the cause of the fire continue.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Surrey Police immediately on 0845 125 2222 quoting reference RM/10/440 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111