Warning to children following latest blaze in empty building

10:59am Monday 12th May 2008

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ARSONISTS targeting a rambling old office block are putting their lives and the lives of others at risk, a fire chief has warned.

Middlesbrough's derelict former Probation Service offices are a magnet for children and people setting fires.

The building, in the town's Douglas Street, has a basement and three floors.

Ron Carr, Cleveland Fire Brigade's watch manager at Middlesbrough, fears children could be playing high up in the building and be cut off from any retreat if a fire were to be started on one of the lower levels.

His warning came after the latest arson attack, on Saturday night, destroyed one first-floor room and left the rest of the first floor smoke-logged.

He said: "We have had a few problems there in the past. We know the building is empty and that children get in. It's always a concern - and our main concern.

"We know kids can get on to the roof level. One of our fears is always the possibility of them not being able to get out from above, if there is a fire.'' Mr Carr said he sent firefighters into the 50m deep building to look for anyone trapped inside, while other crews fought the blaze.

Firefighters were at the scene for two hours on Saturday, much of the time taken up in a careful search of the smoke-filled premises.

Mr Carr said: "There was smoke coming from all openings on the first floor. It looked a very severe fire. The room in which it started has been totally gutted.

"The fire had been burning for 45 minutes to an hour before the alarm was raised. It had become well established.

"With the fire being in the floor and underneath the floor, it became difficult to tackle. And it was hard work, but the crews saved the building.'' Vandals had removed two sections of a six to 8ft-tall metal perimeter fence, then smashed through a 6ft-high wooden fence before breaking through a door to get into the building and start the blaze.