A TEENAGER will be interviewed by police in connection with a fire at a disused Somerset factory, which officers believe was started deliberately.
Five fire engines were sent to the former Greencore factory in Evercreech, near Shepton Mallet, yesterday afternoon (Wednesday, January 4).
Queens Road and Prestleigh Road were closed while the emergency services dealt with the incident.
The Greencore factory, which was used to make chilled desserts, closed in October 2018 at a cost of around 400 jobs.
The fire was reported to the fire service at around 1.20pm.
In a statement issued at around 4.30pm, police confirmed that the fire had been extinguished and the roads had re-opened.
An Avon and Somerset Police spokesperson said: “We were called to a fire at a disused factory building on Queens Road, in Evercreech, near Shepton Mallet, at around 1.30pm (Wednesday, January 4).
“Officers supported the fire service by putting a cordon in place. The fire is believed to be started deliberately.
“A teenage child is due to be interviewed at a later date in connection with the incident.
“The fire is now out, and all closures have been lifted.
“If you have any information which could aid our investigation, please call 101 and quote reference 52223002193.”
A spokesperson for the Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service said: “Fire appliances from Castle Carey, Shepton Mallet, Wincanton, Wells and Street, along with the Incident Command Unit from Street and the Incident Support Unit from Martock, attended a fire in a disused building on Queens Road, Evercreech.
“Multiple calls were received by fire control and the first appliance in attendance confirmed that smoke and flames were issuing from the building.
“To extinguish the fire, crews used four breathing apparatus, two main jets, one safety jet, hydraulic spreaders and two positive pressure ventilation fans.”
Councillor Barry O'Leary, who represents the Creech ward for Mendip District Council, was alerted to “a fire on the former Greencore site” at around 1.15pm.
He said council officers have been “on-site assessing impact and will follow up with the owners”.
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