Man says arson and delayed firefighters put his life at risk

Nov 18 2008 by Andrew Hirst, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Man says arson and delayed firefighters put his life at risk

A MAN says his life was put at risk when arsonists torched his car.

The small hatchback was destroyed in the inferno, which also damaged George Ansell’s home and van, filling it with smoke in the early hours of the morning.

Mr Ansell, 59, says three youths he believes started the fire outside his home on Manchester Road, Crosland Moor, then tried to taunt him into coming out.

But he feared he would be attacked, so he stayed inside with wife Elena.

He added that firefighters were delayed reaching him as the fire took hold and eventually a crew of part-time firefighters from Meltham arrived.

The arson attack happened about 50 minutes after crews across Huddersfield were called to deal with a huge blaze which destroyed Thornton Lodge Community Centre on Brook Street, just a quarter of a mile from Mr Ansell’s home.

He said: “I blame the delay on fire service cutbacks, making fire stations part-time. When they get a big job there is a delay to other calls.”