ARSON PROBE UNDER WAY
ARSON investigations are under way after blazes at two development sites on neighbouring streets in Runcorn.
Crews were first called to a building site on Trinity Street at 5.10pm on Sunday, August 23, where they discovered a section of fire in the roof space of an under-construction three-storey house.
Two appliances, from Runcorn and Widnes, attended and extinguished the flames before damping down the roof space to make it safe.
Checks including using a thermal imaging camera also took place to make sure the fire had not spread, including neighbouring properties.
Cheshire Fire And Rescue Service (CFRS) said an investigation has been completed and the cause is believed to have been deliberate.
The brigade has not said how it thinks the blaze started.
Crews were at the scene for around 90 minutes and were back in action half an hour later at 7.12pm on a neighbouring street when a fire started in an outbuilding on
Irwell Lane.
The fire service and police have not said the exact location where it happened but hazardous scene tape had been fitted across an open garage doorway at the vacant house at 33-35 Irwell Lane.
Again two appliances, from Runcorn and Widnes, attended and doused the flames using a hose jet.
A utility company isolated the power supply.
The building is currently subject to a planning application for proposed demolition and to build more than 30 flats in its place.
Halton Borough Council was aiming to make a decision by August 18 but
Both fires are believed to have been started deliberately.
Anyone with any information that may aid the arson investigations has been urged to call Cheshire police on 101, quoting IML 787837 for the Irwell Lane incident, or IML 787771 for the Trinity Street fire.
Alternatively call independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.