A 23-year-old man and a 24-year-old woman have been arrested on suspicion of arson over a large fire in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire Police said.
The force said the arrests were in relation to a grass fire at around 4.15pm on Thursday at the back of Maureen Avenue, Goldenhill, which spread quickly.
Four homes were affected, alongside a number of gardens, the force said, but fire crews have since brought the blaze under control.
The force said inquiries have “progressed at pace” and the man and woman, both from Stoke-on-Trent, were arrested on Friday morning.
Detective Inspector Emma Kempson said: “We are continuing to work at pace to investigate the circumstances surrounding yesterday’s fire, which has culminated in the arrests today.
“Goldenhill Community Centre on Drummond Street was set up to provide support to evacuated individuals and others affected. We’re now working alongside Stoke-on-Trent City Council and have moved the location to Goldenhill Working Men’s Club on Mobberley Road.
“We’ve still got a number of officers in the area today and I can assure the local community we are actively working to investigate this surge in recent fires across Staffordshire.”
The fire in Stoke-on-Trent came on the same day that a large blaze in Stourbridge left “extensive” devastation to homes and grassland.
Overall 19 people were taken to hospital on Thursday, the region’s ambulance service said.
More than 100 firefighters were sent to the scene of the Stourbridge wildfire on Thursday, which is believed to have started in the grassland before spreading to houses nearby, according to the West Midlands Fire Service.
Fourteen fire engines remain on the scene and Chief fire officer Simon Tuhill has warned the emergency service presence in Stourbridge “will likely run into days” as he told people to “stay away” from the area.
The West Midlands was subject to an amber warning for extreme heat for much of Thursday before multiple fires were reported, which was set to expire just before midnight.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he was in touch with local leaders in the West Midlands as firefighters continue to bring several wildfires in the region under control.
