Police have confirmed they are investigating a suspected arson attack at the former Wolverhampton College campus on Paget Road in Wolverhampton. Flames ripped through the empty building on Sunday afternoon, July 19, with firefighters spending six hours at the scene after being called at around 4.20pm.
Fire believed to have been started deliberately
The cause of the fire is yet to be determined, but West Midlands Fire Service said it is believed to have been started deliberately. A West Midlands Police spokesperson stated: "We are investigating a suspected arson at the former Wolverhampton College building on Paget Road, yesterday afternoon. Officers were alerted by West Midlands Fire Service who dealt with the fire at the empty property. The cause is yet to be determined and we are working with fire colleagues to establish the exact circumstances."
Details from the fire service
A fire service spokesperson added: "This was a fire on the ground floor in a three-storey building, comprising Wolverhampton College. Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus extinguished the fire, which is believed to have been started deliberately. Paget Road was closed for a time, but reopened when we began scaling down our resources between 7.30pm and 8.30pm. Firefighters continued to damp down the affected area, and all crews had left the scene by 10.20pm. We revisited the site shortly after 1.10am this morning, identifying no further hotspots after thorough checks."
Appeal for information
Police are appealing for anyone with information to contact them on 101, quoting reference 20/331101/26. Alternatively, people can use the live chat option at www.west-midlands.police.uk. The investigation is ongoing, with officers working alongside fire service colleagues to determine the exact circumstances of the blaze.
