AN ARSON attack on a Burnley house forced seven homes to be evacuated.

Firefighters spent several hours tackling the blaze in Waterbarn Street, Burnley, after receiving calls from concerned neighbours.

The home where the fire started has been left badly damaged, with neighbours also counting the cost.

Neighbour Brian Hanson, 76, said he was alerted to the fire in the rented house when he smelt smoke in his home.

He said: “I came downstairs and the room was full of smoke, I thought our house was on fire at first. I rang the fire brigade and then went in the back to get our cats and dogs out.

“My partner opened the door and saw that next door was on fire – the house has been gutted.

“We were really lucky, I think if the fire brigade had taken just a couple more minutes to arrive the fire could have spread to my property.”

Another neighbour said: “I heard a smash and then an explosion, so I looked out and there were flames coming out of the door.

“A dog was in there but it got out the back.”

When crews arrived at the scene, shortly after 6pm on Tuesday, both floors of the terraced property were well alight.

Dominic Fellows, watch manager, said three homes either side of the house had to be evacuated.

He said the fire, which had caused smoke damage to both adjacent properties as well as gutting the front room of the house itself and causing smoke damage throughout, was thought to be an arson attack.

During the blaze the occupant, a 44-year-old man, thought to live in the property, was arrested on suspicion of public order offences including use of threatening words causing deliberate harassment, alarm or distress and assaulting a constable in the execution of his duty.