Fire crews and police attended a deliberately started fire in a derelict building on Stoke Road, Shelton on Sunday morning, Staffordshire emergency services have confirmed.
Fire discovered on third floor
Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service said it was called at 9.20am on 26 July after reports of a fire. Three fire appliances and an aerial ladder platform were deployed to the scene alongside officers from Staffordshire Police. Crews located a blaze on the third floor and used a hose reel jet to bring it under control before conducting a thorough search of the empty building. No injuries were reported.
| Event | Time / detail |
|---|---|
| Emergency call received | 9.20am, 26 July |
| Firefighting resources | Three appliances and aerial ladder platform |
| Crews left scene | 4.45pm |
| Injuries | None reported |
A spokesperson for the fire service described how crews used the hose reel to extinguish the flames and completed a search of the derelict property. They confirmed the incident was treated as deliberate.
"Crews used a hose reel jet to extinguish the fire before thoroughly searching the building. Nobody was reported injured. The cause of the fire was deemed to be deliberate and crews left the scene at 4.45pm."
Police appeal for witnesses and footage
Staffordshire Police have opened an investigation and are asking members of the public to come forward if they have any relevant footage or information. Officers are particularly keen to hear from people with CCTV, doorbell or dashcam recordings taken in the area around the time of the fire.
- Call 101 quoting incident 255 of 26 July.
- Use the police Live Chat on their website to submit information.
- To remain anonymous, contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
The building was described as derelict; such properties can be vulnerable to accidental fires and to deliberate acts. The prolonged presence of crews on scene — they were recorded as leaving at 4.45pm — indicates a sustained operation to ensure the fire was fully extinguished and that the site presented no immediate risk to the public.
Local residents and road users in Shelton who think they may have seen anything unusual around the time of the incident are asked to contact police with any information that could assist the inquiry.
