POLICE are treating a blaze that kept fire officers working through the night in Warrington as arson.
The fire that gutted four premises on Bewsey Road is now believed to have been caused deliberatly and police are urging anyone with any information to contact Gordon Wilson at the Warrington Specialist Investigation Unit on 01244 613 831.
A total of 11 crews were dispatched to extinguish the fire at around 9.15pm last night, with an arial appliance being used to tackle the roof blaze.
Crews were believed to have extinguished the fire by around 11pm last night, with crews continuing to dampen down this morning.
The fire is believed to have started in the roof of a row of four businesses and affected several businesses in the terraced row next to the pub.
All of the road had to be cordoned off in order for the inferno to be dealt with and will continue to be closed for the rest of the morning.
Businesses affected included a cafe, a chip shop and KW Golf.
Electricity for an entire stretch of Bewsey Road has been cut off until a buildings assessor can determine if it is safe to switch it back on again.
Crew Manager Pollard said: “We arrived last night and the fire was well developed in the first floor of the premises. Crews used breathing apparatus, five pumps and thermal imaging equipment to tackle the fire. The fire is now stable, but there has been damage to the roof.”
All of the buildings could be demolished should the assessor determine them to be damaged beyond repair.
A spokesperson for the fire service relief crew said: “We will continue to dampen down and look for hot spots. Judging by the state of the roof, looking from the outside, there could be substantial damage and even parts that have collapsed.”
