ARSON WARNING: Firefighters believe Bircotes school fire was started deliberately

A blaze that destroyed a derelict school in Bircotes was started deliberately, firefighters believe.

The fire ripped through the building, on Whitehouse Court, in the early hours of Monday morning (July 25).

It took firefighters from seven fire stations in the area around eight hours to extinguish the blaze, which is now thought to have been started by arsonists.

Matt Reavill, station manage who heads Notts Fire’s community safety team, said: “This incident alone shows just how damaging fire can be and, while nobody was injured in this instance, it could have been much worse.

“Deliberate fire setting can not only damage property like this, but can also endanger life.

“If our crews are dealing with a fire that has been started deliberately they may not be able to attend a much more serious, life-threatening incident, such as a house fire or road traffic collision.

“With this in mind I would like to ask people that live in and around Harworth and Bircotes to try and be vigilant and look out for any suspicious behaviour.”

Anyone with information should call Nottinghamshire Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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