Arson attack on asbestos-ridden Chester building

Jun 16 2008 by Richard Fletcher, Chester Chronicle

FIREBUGS caused worries for the emergency services in Chester after setting light to a building with asbestos in the roof.

The derelict building, with asbestos sheets inside, was discovered while firefighters were dealing with fire outbreaks in piles of logs nearby.

It stands on the Countess of Chester Hospital’s old psychiatric unit site due for redevelopment down Deva Lane, although crews officially recorded the incident as Liverpool Road. It was discovered at 8.13am on Sunday, June 15.

Due to the potentially serious nature of the blaze, Cheshire Fire Service alerted the local authority but, with no rivers nearby and little chance of air pollution, it was not deemed a major concern.

Meanwhile, crews from both Chester Fire Station and Ellesmere Port have continued to battle fire outbreaks from a deep-seated blaze in a pile of logs.

Firefighters originally believed the fire, also on the redevelopment site, was caused by contractors trying to dispose of the wood piles. However it has now been recorded as being started maliciously.

The logs, dried out in the sun, have continued to take up time and resources for the Fire Brigade since 2.27am on Sunday and an engine from Chester was again at the scene at 5.30pm.