Three people arrested after pot bank fire (PICS + VIDEO)
Thirty firefighters tackled the flames, which could be seen from miles around and destroyed much of the first floor of Aynsley’s china works in Sutherland Road, Longton.
The blaze, which spread to the ground floor and ravaged the roof, broke out in a newly-built office block close to the company’s factory shop.
Staff had only moved into the new units last month.
Article continues below
Six appliances from Hanley, Longton and Burslem spent several hours at the scene after police raised the alarm at 4.15am.
Now police and fire officials have launched a joint investigation into the suspected arson attack.
Two men, aged 34 and 19, and an 18-year-old woman, all from Stoke-on-Trent, were arrested this morning on suspicion of arson. They are currently detained at the Northern Area custody facility in Etruria. where they will be questioned by detectives today.
A Staffordshire Police spokesman said: “Scenes of crime officers will carry out examinations, along with FARs investigators, today at the factory. The fire is being treated as suspicious.”
Crews wore breathing apparatus to search the premises but found them unoccupied.
The fire was in an area measuring 50 by 20 metres and two aerial platforms were used to help bring the flames under control by 7.30am.
Firefighters remained at the scene damping down for several hours after the fire was extinguished.
Article continues below
At one point it was feared two sealed drums containing chemicals could explode in the heat but they were safely moved away from the building.
Now structural engineers from Stoke-on-Trent City Council are due to visit the site to look at whether part of the building would have to be demolished.
A section of Sutherland Road is likely to remain closed for most of the day.
A fire brigade spokesman said: “Two Longton crews were the first to arrive but the fire was so severe that they immediately called for back-up. At one point 30 personnel were involved in tackling the fire.
“The cause will not be known until the investigation is under way, but no-one was hurt.”
A spokesman for Hanley fire station said: “The fire was at the rear of the L-shaped building where the factory is located.
“It spread both to the ground floor and the roof has gone so the building has been lost. We will not know what started it until later.
“Crews went in wearing breathing apparatus to stop it spreading to other parts of the premises. It was a particularly severe blaze.”
A spokesman for Aynsley China said: “These were new offices and staff will now move to nearby temporary office accommodation. We don’t know anything about the cause of the fire at the moment or what will happen to the building.”
Anyone with information about the fire should ring Stoke-on-Trent CID on 0300 123 4455 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
