A MAN has been arrested by police on suspicion of arson after a fire near a business in Burnley.

Crews from Burnley, Nelson and Hyndburn were called to the incident on Accrington Road at 3.43am on Sunday morning.

Acting crew manager Ian McGee from Burnley Fire said: "We had reports of a wheelie bin fire at the back of the Fireplace Warehouse business.

"It was suspected that it was started deliberately and is being treated as arson.

"When we got there the wheelie bin fire had spread to some decking at the business.

"We had to use a hooligan tool and holmato spreaders to lift open the roller shutters just to ensure that it had not spread inside the building.

"We were there for two hours and there was no-one hurt during the incident.

"It was quite lucky that the fire did not spread inside the building."

Insp Chris Valentine of Burnley Police said: "We were called to the incident on Accrington Road.

"A male has been arrested on suspicion of setting fire to a refuse container and then it spread to the Fireplace Warewhouse business."

The store opened as usual on Sunday morning but directors were not available for comment

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