A MAN is lucky to be alive after arsonists targeted his home.
Fire crews were called to Queensway, Hope, shortly after midnight on Monday after reports of an outhouse attached to a house in flames.
Homeowner Mark Youd, 53, lost tools worth hundreds of pounds in the fire which crews say was started deliberately. Brand new wooden floorboards which Mr Youd had planned to lay in his bedroom were also destroyed in the fire.
Mr Youd, who is unemployed and lives alone, will have to sit tight as the property is rewired.
Speaking from his smoke-damaged home yesterday, Mr Youd told the Leader: “I was just in the kitchen pottering about when I could smell smoke.
“When I saw the outhouse on fire I called the police who called the fire brigade. I was concerned the fire may have spread to my next door neighbour who has three small children. Everybody was out in the street watching.”
Two fire engines from Wrexham raced to the scene.
A spokesman for North Wales Police said crime scene investigators had scoured the scene for clues and an investigation was ongoing.
Mr Youd, whose front and back door were barged down by fire crews, was checked for injuries at the scene and deemed to be OK.
He said he did not know who started the blaze but said young troublemakers in the area were not uncommon.
Yesterday electrical firm SPT Electrical were at the scene to assess the damage and begin an extensive course of re-wiring.
Workman Steve Thomas said: “It’s done some significant damage to the circuits. We will have to rewire the porch, the outhouse and the kitchen and will also install some more smoke alarms.”
Mr Thomas suggested Mr Youd install CCTV cameras at his home.
He added: “He was very lucky.”