3:40pm Monday 9th November 2009
By Peter Magill
A DOUBLE glazing firm boss has been left counting the cost of a ‘suspicious’ blaze which ripped through his Burnley headquarters.
Police and fire brigade investigators were today sifting through fire damage at Fast Glass, Smirthwaite Street, off Hargher Street, following an incident last night.
Four fire crews raced to the two-storey premises, which has been used as a showroom and manufacturing base for the company for the past 14 years.
Detective Sergeant Ian Taylor, of Burnley CID, said there were no signs of a break-in at the firm but confirmed that the fire was being treated as ‘suspicious’.
Detectives have been hampered as the offices are surrounded by blocks of boarded-up properties as part of the Elevate programme, limiting the number of potential witnesses.
But DS Taylor said: “We would appeal for anyone who has seen anything, at around 8.50pm on Sunday, to come forward and help with our inquiries.”
Simon Capstick, managing director of Fast Glass, said that he was thankful that, due to the prompt actions of firefighters, the blaze was mainly contained in the front entrance and the main ground floor showroom, with first floor offices being affected by smoke.
He said: “Because we work on the road a lot, installing units, then it is mostly business as normal, though we will have to assess the damage and see how much it is going to cost us.
“The fire has mainly been contained in the showroom and around the front door, because the firefighters have certainly done their job.
“It is not as bad as it could have been and we have had other firms contacting us, offering to help us out with any manufacturing that needs doing, which is refreshing. We have got a full order book and need to get our units out so we need to sort this out.”
People who saw anything in the Smirthwaite Street area are asked to call Burnley CID on 01282 472144 or Crimestoppers in confidence on 0800 555 111.
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