Published by Robert L Senior Reporter on Friday 25th April 2025 at 08:25hrs
Police have launched an investigation following a significant fire at the St Nicholas Owen Church Presbytery on Raikes Road in Thornton last Tuesday evening.
Lancashire Fire and Rescue were called to the scene at approximately 6:30 PM on Tuesday, April 22nd, 2025, to find the building already well ablaze.
Firefighters from Blackpool and Fleetwood, including the aerial ladder platform and drone teams, were dispatched to tackle the blaze.
In a statement, Lancashire Fire & Rescue reported that four fire engines attended the incident at 6:04 PM.
The fire involved a large, detached, derelict two-story building, measuring approximately 17 metres by 7 metres. Crews worked to extinguish the fire using three jets, three triple extension ladders, one roof ladder, three thermal imaging cameras, one 13.5-metre ladder, and one hose reel jet.
Thankfully, no injuries were reported as a result of the incident.
Following the firefighting efforts, Lancashire Police have confirmed they are now treating the incident as suspected arson.
A spokesperson for the police urged the public to come forward with any information that could assist their investigation.
“We would appeal to any residents or witnesses who may have seen anything suspicious, or that have CCTV or Dashcam footage of the area to get in touch with us directly via 101, quoting log number LC-20250422-1246.”
The police have also provided a direct email address for anyone with information to contact the investigating officer: jo.clement@lancashire.police.uk.
The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are keen to hear from anyone who may have been in the Raikes Road area of Thornton on Tuesday evening and witnessed anything that could be relevant to their enquiries.
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