A fire that broke out in Derby city center on Saturday night (May 28) was started deliberately. A joint investigation by the Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service and Derbyshire Police has concluded that the fire on the seventh floor of Laurie House on Colyear Street was intentionally caused.
Firefighters across the county – and also from Nottinghamshire – were called to the incident shortly before 9pm. There was a cordon around Colyear Street and Macklin Street.
Read more: Live updates on the fire in the center of Derby as the road remains closed
The burning building is located next to the former Pink Coconut nightclub and near the old Pennine Hotel, the latter of which has now been largely demolished.
Derbyshire police are asking for witnesses and say they are treating the fire as “suspicious”.
A fire spokesman said: “A fire at the site of the former Pennine Hotel in Derby is being treated as a suspect following a joint investigation by the Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service. We are now calling for witnesses or anyone who has seen suspicious activity shows up.
“In particular, we would like to know if anyone saw people accessing the site, on Macklin Street, or hovering around 6pm on Saturday, May 28. If you can help, please contact us at 101 or via of social media and cites reference 22. * 307140. “
A fire spokeswoman thanked the emergency services crews and 999 workers for their help.
He said: “A joint investigation by Derbyshire police and fire into the cause of a building fire on Macklin Street last night has concluded that the fire was started deliberately.
“Firefighters were called to the fire at 8:52 p.m. Saturday evening with initial reports that the fire was in the old Pennine Hotel. The fire was located on the seventh level of Laurie House.”
Follow our live updates on the aftermath of the fire here.
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