Police have launched a murder inquiry after a fatal blaze in Demesne Road earlier this week.

They’ve arrested a 34 year-old Douglas man on suspicion of murder and arson with intent to endanger life in connection with that fire and three other blazes started in the area in the previous 16 hours.

Terry Losh, 61, died in the Demesne Road blaze on Sunday morning.

Deputy Chief Constable Gary Roberts says results of forensic tests suggest all four fires were started deliberately.

Police are still trying to trace anyone who was in the area of Demesne Road in the hours leading to the fire last Sunday morning. In particular:

A man and a woman who walked past 19 Demesne Road shortly after 4am (before the fire was discovered). The couple were walking from the direction of Bucks Road towards Westmoreland Road. The male is described as being around 6’ 2” tall, stocky wearing a white baseball cap and a coat which was mainly blue with a white V on the neck. The female had long dark hair, was around 5’7” tall wearing dark coloured jeans.

A man wearing a tuxedo in the Kensington Road, Bucks Road area during the early hours of Sunday morning.

Two people who helped to extinguish the fire that occurred at 2.10pm on the afternoon of Saturday, March 21, at the rear of Bucks Road Douglas. They are described as:

A white man, with dark hair and stubble wearing glasses, blue jeans and a dark blue long sleeve top – using a water fire extinguisher to put out the fire.

A woman possibly of Philippino origin wearing a white top.

Two people who walked past Road and Track on Tynwald Street in the direction of Westmoreland Road at 2.55am on Sunday, March 22. They were wearing predominantly dark clothing with one of them possibly wearing a light coloured hat or hood.

Anyone who has information about the incident should contact police headquarters on 631212 or the anonymous Crimestoppers line - 0800 555111.