A MURDER investigation has been launched after a devastating property fire in Bideford left one man missing and homes destroyed.
Emergency services raced to Honestone Street at around 8.30pm on Tuesday, October 28, after flames tore through a property in the quiet North Devon town.
Officers and firefighters battled the blaze as horrified residents looked on, with several homes later evacuated for safety.
The force reported steps were being taken to ensure people could return to their homes as soon as possible.
Det Ch Insp Sam Smoothy said: “We would like to thank local residents and the Bideford public for their patience and understanding as our officers continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the fire.
“One person remains unaccounted for at this time with next of kin being made aware.
“Incidents of this nature are shocking for any community. We are working closely with the fire service and local authority to ensure displaced residents are housed and looked after over the coming days.”
Police initially treated the incident as suspected arson, but it has now escalated into a major murder inquiry.
A scene guard remains in place, and parts of Honestone Street are still cordoned off as investigators continue to comb through the wreckage.
Detectives have confirmed that one person remains unaccounted for, and his next of kin have been informed.
The investigation took a dramatic turn when five teenagers – four boys and a girl, all under 18 and from North Devon – were arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life.
They are currently being held in police custody for questioning.
A man in his 30s, also from Bideford, was previously arrested on the same suspicion but has since been released on police bail.
Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed they are treating the case as a possible murder as officers explore several lines of inquiry.
Detective Inspector Chris Lithgow, from the Major Crime Investigation Team, said: “We are treating this as a murder investigation, as murder is one of several hypotheses currently being investigated by our officers.”
He continued: “We are working with the local authority to support the displaced residents and hope to enable them to return to their homes as soon as it is safe to do so.”
The DI described the case as “challenging”, with investigators working around the clock to uncover how the fire started.
“This is a challenging investigation and we are working tirelessly to establish the circumstances surrounding the fire. One man remains unaccounted for at this time,” he said.
Residents have been forced to stay in temporary accommodation as police and fire experts assess the safety of nearby properties.
DI Lithgow praised the community for their patience amid growing concern in the town.
“We appreciate this is a worrying time for the local community, but I would like to thank residents for their patience and support,” he added.
He also urged locals to avoid speculation online, warning that misinformation could hamper the ongoing investigation.
“We would ask people not to speculate online regarding this incident,” he said.
There will be a “heightened police presence” in the area over the coming days, as officers carry out door-to-door enquiries and gather CCTV footage.
“There will continue to be a heightened police presence in the area and anybody with concerns or information is asked to approach our officers,” DI Lithgow said.
Police are appealing for anyone with information or footage that could help the inquiry to come forward.
Residents who may have seen or recorded anything suspicious in the area on the night of the fire are being urged to get in touch immediately.
“If anybody has any information or footage which may help our investigation, please call 101 or visit our website quoting log 748 of 28 October,” the detective added.
The investigation remains ongoing, with forensic teams expected to stay on scene for several more days as they work to piece together how the deadly fire began.
Locals say the normally peaceful street has been “rocked” by the tragedy – one resident calling it “the worst thing to ever happen here.”
Police are expected to release further updates once the search for the missing man concludes and forensic results return.
When the blaze first broke out, fire crews battled the inferno all throughout the night.
sixteen fire stations were called in as huge orange flames and thick smoke filled the air.
A fire service spokes person said the blaze was brought under control in the early hours of Wednesday, but crews remained at the scene for dampening down work.
A large power outage in the area was also linked to the incident.
Torridge District Council confirmed around 45 residents were evacuated, with 30 of them needing temporary accommodation.
“Temporary accommodation was secured in hotels in Bideford and Barnstaple,” a council spokesperson said.
The Royal Hotel Bideford was among those offering help – opening its doors for a second night to displaced families.
Duty manager Matt Broadrick said: “We’ve been working quite hard to make sure the people are all accommodated. We’ve got people with babies and dogs that we’re all trying to help.”
Owners Christina and Noah Sixton-Brend called the incident “horrific.” Mrs Sixton-Brend said: “It’s such a small community and I think it’s so nice us and our staff are coming together to help people.”
Mr Sixton-Brend added: “These will be people that the team will know, so we just want to be able to help as much as possible.”
Residents described scenes of chaos as the fire took hold. Ken Parkhouse said: “It looked very scary. Most of the building was on fire and lots of people were out on the street watching what was going on.
“There were bright orange flames and heavy smoke which could be seen from a distance.”
Adele Carter, 54, who lives near the police cordon, said: “We saw all the smoke so we went out into the alley-way, it was just awful to see people in danger. It’s a small community so you look out for people.”
Another local said: “I saw the smoke, and then I saw the fire team. Later there were more sirens and blue lights. It’s terrifying and I really hope they’re alright.”
Paul Nicholls, 62, who lives 200 yards from the house, said his home began to fill with smoke. “I saw some smoke while I was eating my dinner. I was eating and I left on my own accord because my house was starting to fill with smoke. When I got back there was a raging fire.”
