A MAN was in custody today after being arrested over a fire which ravaged an Ipswich house and forced the dramatic rescue of a mother and her two young daughters.

A MAN was in custody today after being arrested over a fire which ravaged an Ipswich house and forced the dramatic rescue of a mother and her two young daughters.

The 36-year-old from the Stowmarket area was arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life after the fire in Rectory Road.

He was being held in Ipswich today for questioning.

Firefighters rescued 31-year-old Julie Denny and her daughters Maisie, 3, and Isabel, 1, from an upstairs window of their terraced house at about 4.25am while the fire raged below.

As reported in later editions of yesterday's Evening Star, when they arrived the property was consumed with thick smoke and a frantic Ms Denny was clutching her baby daughter out of the window in an attempt to protect her from the lethal fumes.

"I was terrified," Ms Denny said.

"It was very, very thick, you couldn't see the bed from the window and it's only two or three feet.

"The fact I have got two children and I was trapped upstairs with them made me try to work out a way I could get them out before the firefighters arrived but I couldn't."

The firefighters used a ladder to get to the window and pulled baby Isabel to safety before helping Maisie and Ms Denny out.

After being saved from their burning home, the terrified family were taken to Ipswich Hospital suffering from slight smoke inhalation but they were released yesterday morning.

They were left to reflect on their lucky escape at Ms Denny's parents' house in Wesel Avenue, Felixstowe, and to try to gather clothes and belongings from friends to tide them over.

"We've got nothing. I've managed to scrounge some clothes," Ms Denny said.

"We've got no cot, no clothes, no shoes."

An investigation into the cause of the blaze was launched yesterday by both police and fire cause investigators.

Ian Bowell, assistant divisional officer for Ipswich, who is conducting the investigation, said: "The on-scene investigation is now complete but there are still a number of avenues that we need to pursue and as yet, we have been unable to find a definite cause."

Ms Denny praised the actions of firefighters, paramedics and the RSPCA, which has been caring for four of her 10 cats.

"We were looked after really well. Everybody has been brilliant," she said.