Arson to blame for blaze at old waste site
A FORMER waste site in Sileby was involved in a fire with authorities saying the cause was “deliberate”.
Residents in the area reported seeing both Leicestershire Police and Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service rushing to the scene of the incident close to 8pm on Wednesday, January 29.
One of those residents is 18-year-old Evie Pryor. She said: “I live just off cemetery road where the fire was.
“We have a loft conversion that overlooks the old tip so we could see a lot of what was going on out of the window.
“There was an ambulance two police cars and a fire engine from what I could see. We were in the car when the engine turned up onto cemetery road behind my mum’s car, she quickly pulled into our road to get out of the way.
“A lot of people from Cemetery
Road were out on the street, but we could see a lot more from the window.
“We heard the officers and fire brigade talking and attempting to put the fire out.
“The flames were through a window; smoke was coming out of the windows until the fire fighters started to add water.”
She also said that since the site’s closure about a decade ago it has become a popular place for young people to gather.
A spokeswoman for Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service were called to the old waste site just after at 8pm.
One appliance from Birstall, two from Loughborough and one from Shepshed attended the fire.
The fire was located on the first floor and fire officers used two breathing apparatus and a hose reel jet to combat the flames. Fortunately the blaze was extinguished by 9.38pm and an investigation was carried out into the cause.
The spokeswoman confirmed the cause which was “deliberate ignition by persons unknown”.
All persons were accounted for, however, the area is known to be a popular hibernating spot for wildlife. Barrow Hedgehog Rescue stated that there is a high population in the area.
A statement on Facebook said: “Most hogs are still hibernating we expect some will sadly be caught up in it.
“We are aware of the situation and a lovely women is on her way to give crates and blankets to the fire brigade if any are found but can I please ask the people of Sileby to pay extra attention if they see any hogs near that area.”
Leicestershire Police confirmed they had not made any arrests in relation to the fire.