Police step up hunt for £100,000 arsonists

POLICE have stepped up their hunt for the arsonists who started a major £100,000 fire on an industrial site at Woolston – reported by Warrington-Worldwide earlier today.
And they have revealed that two attempts were made to start fires on the site at Bridge Lane – but that other one put itself out.
Detectives are appealing for information – including photographs or video footage – from the public.
The fire was started shortly before 11pm on Saturday and 10 fire engines were sent to the scene – battling through the night to extinguish the blaze involving a large quantity of timber pallets at Forward Works.
The other fire, which went out itself, was at the WH Capper works.
Enquiries in relation to the incidents are ongoing and detectives are urging anyone with information, or CCTV or dashcam footage, that may help their investigation to get in touch.
Detective Constable Tom Ashton, of Warrington CID, said: “Thankfully no-one was hurt as a result of the fires. The consequences of the fires could have been far worse.
“However, approximately £100,000 worth of damage has been caused as a result of the pallets fire at Forward Works.
“Our investigation into the fires is still in its early stages but it appears that offenders started the fire at Forward Works from a footpath clearing off Cliftonville Road before they entered the industrial estate and started a further fire within the WH Capper building.
“The fires put lives and people’s livelihoods at risk and I would like to reassure business owners and residents that we are determined to establish who was responsible for the fires and make them face the consequences of their actions.
“Enquiries into the fires are ongoing and as part of our investigation we want to hear from anyone with any information or footage that may be relevant.
“Perhaps you were in the area and witnessed something that may aid our investigation, or may be you have information regarding who started the fires.
“We also want to hear from anyone with CCTV or dashcam footage of anyone in the area who may have been involved in the fires being started.”
Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service Deliberate Fire Reduction Manager Andy Gray added: “The fire at Forward Works involved a large amount of pallets, which were well alight on the arrival of firefighters.
“The fire took 12 hours to extinguish and put the safety of our firefighters at risk as they fought to bring it under control.
“Fires that are believed to have been started deliberately such as this take up valuable resources, costing taxpayers thousands of pounds, so if anyone knows anything about it then please report what you know.”
Anyone with information or CCTV footage that may help the investigation into the fires should call Cheshire Constabulary on 101, quoting IML 442331, give the details via https://cheshire.police.uk/contact/general-enquiries or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Dashcam footage can be submitted online at www.cheshire.police.uk/advice-and-support/roads-and-vehicle-safety/submit-dashcam-footage.