A FARNHAM mother, her father, and her three children, including an eight-week-old baby, had a terrifying escape on Sunday, when an arsonist set fire to their home in Selborne Gardens, Farnham. The Wiltshire family were in their beds asleep when black smoke, from a "fire accelerant" poked through the front door, filled the house at around 1-30 am, setting off the smoke alarm. Nicola Wiltshire, 28, was only stirred from her bed when a neighbour, who had seen the smoke and heard the alarm, began hammering on her windows. Residents reacted with heroic immediacy and pulled the children, Crystal, 6, Chantelle, 5, and baby Jamie, from the house via the rear windows, taking them to safety. The fire brigade arrived within 15 minutes and the police shortly after, but were it not for the rescuing residents' efforts, the end result could have been much worse. The family was taken to the Royal Surrey County Hospital, where they were treated for smoke inhalation and shock. Nicola was particularly worried about the health of Jamie, who has suffered from breathing difficulties since birth and was exposed to the smoke. Since leaving the hospital, Nicola and her children have been staying with her sister in Upper Weybourne Lane. But with eight people staying in the two-bedroom property, this is a short-term option. It was the Farnborough fire service that responded to the call because a separate arson incident was being dealt with simultaneously by the Farnham brigade just 500 metres from the Wiltshires' home. A landscape lorry, which burnt out at the junction of The Hatches with Wrecclesham Road, left the Farnham engines too low on water to then deal with a house fire. Although the police are treating the cases separately, they conceded that it would be very coincidental if they were unrelated. Miss Wiltshire was full of praise for the police. "The officers have been absolutely brilliant, I can't even begin to describe how helpful and supportive they have been," she said. The case is currently being investigated as arson with intent to endanger lives - an offence which could result in a life prison sentence. The officer leading the investigation, Dc David Pellatt, confirmed that a man and a woman had been arrested, interviewed and bailed, and that their investigations are ongoing. He added: "Had the neighbours not acted as they did, then we could have been looking at five bodies in the morning - that's how seriously we are treating this case." Firefighters also heaped praise on the neighbours, but reminded people not to tackle a fire themselves unless they have no choice. Farnham Fire Station manager Steve Burnell commented: "In this instance, Mr Wiltshire (Nicola's father) had managed to keep the fire under control, but we strongly recommend that people get themselves to safety and leave it to the fire services. "This just goes to show how important smoke detectors can be. In this case it has helped spare the lives of five innocent people." Mrs Wiltshire said she would never go back to the Selborne Gardens home. She said: "If we went back, there is no way I would feel safe. I know a couple of people that might have done this, but it could have just been a prank, so I don't want to ever risk this happening again." Labour's prospective parliamentary candidate for SW Surrey, Tom Sleigh, visited the site a few hours after the incident to congratulate residents on their bravery. He said: "Farnham has a low crime rate anyway and people shouldn't feel too worried, but at the same time we have to find who did this and bring them to justice. Anyone with information relating to the attack should call Dc David Pellatt at Farnham CID on 01252 573700. Calls can also be made anonymously and free of charge to Surrey Police Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
