Fire Investigation Team Helps Jail Southampton Arsonist

A Southampton man has been jailed after investigators proved he deliberately started a fire that caused £30,000 in damage to a city bedsit.

Ross Rowe, 54, was sentenced to six years in prison with a three-year extended licence after being found guilty of arson with recklessness as to whether life was endangered.

The blaze broke out on 25 November 2024 at a first-floor flat on Atherley Road, with crews from Southampton and Eastleigh fire stations tackling the flames using hose reels and jets while wearing breathing apparatus. Thick smoke was later cleared using ventilation fans.

The court heard that Rowe used aerosols and a camping stove to ignite the fire, which blew out a window and caused major structural damage.

A joint investigation by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service (HIWFRS) and Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary was key to securing the conviction. Fire investigation dogs trained to detect ignitable liquids assisted the investigation, which confirmed the blaze was deliberate.

James Lucy, Assistant Director of Community Safety at HIWFRS, praised the teamwork behind the conviction, noting the importance of collaboration between fire investigators and police in bringing arsonists to justice.

“Following a thorough investigation working alongside our police colleagues, we are extremely pleased with the outcome of this case,” he said.

“Our Fire Investigation team use their extensive skills and knowledge to identify when a fire has been started deliberately and then assist the investigation further to bring arsonists to justice. We are continually proud of the way our fire investigation team works in collaboration with police to achieve these results.”

The service emphasised that the case highlights the vital role of fire investigators in identifying deliberate fires and helping protect communities.