A ‘DANGEROUS’ former school should be ‘ripped down’ after an arson attack led to a warning lives were being put at risk.

Community leaders said if people continue to set fires in the former Habergham High School in Burnley ‘someone is going to get killed’.

The warning came after firefighters tackled two fires set at the Kiddrow Lane site, which now has holes in the floor and roof.

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Four teenage boys were spotted running away from the scene, on Sunday, and the incidents are being treated as arson, police said.

Cllr Charlie Briggs, who represents the area on Burnley Council, said: “I cannot believe that kids are going in that building time and time again.

“There is asbestos in there and holes in the floor and someone is going to get killed.

“It’s about time something was done about it. I think it ought to be ripped down.

“I am not just concerned for the kids going in there but also for the residents around the building.

“It is extremely unsafe. It doesn’t take a brain surgeon to see that.

“Parents have got to make sure their kids are aware of how dangerous it is and stop them going in there.”

More than 20 firefighters were called to the scene at around 9pm.

One blaze was found in a first floor classroom while the other was in a storage room under the stairs on the ground floor.

Six firefighters wearing breathing apparatus extinguished the flames while others searched for anyone trapped, although no-one was found inside.

Last June, Shuttleworth College student Kieran Simpson,14, was left fighting for his life after falling 50ft from the building.

He suffered a fractured skull, collapsed lung, damaged liver, five broken vertebrae, fractured ribs and swelling on the brain.

Watch manager Damian Hartley said arson incidents were taking firefighters away from ‘more serious’ jobs.

He said: “Youths had been seen running away from the building by witnesses who had called the fire in.

“People need to stay away from this building due to the dangerous state of it.

“There are holes in the floors and roof in the first floor and the ground floor levels, which make it particularly hazardous.

“They are also putting firefighters’ lives at risk at the scene and stopping them getting to potentially more serious fires elsewhere.

“The fire is being treated as arson.”

Lancashire County Council has said it was working to sell the site and was in discussions with a possible purchaser to agree a sale.

Phil Jeffrey, the council’s estates surveyor, said: “We are aware of recent damage and nuisance at this site, including the fire.

“The site is protected by fencing and the buildings are boarded up.

“We also have security people on site at certain times.

“We will be looking to make the buildings secure once again.”

Police said they had launched an investigation into the cause of the fire.

A spokesman said: “Security guards reported seeing up to four male teenagers running from the scene.

“It is being treated as suspicious and I would encourage anyone with information to come forward.”

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101, quoting log number 1282 of February 19.