Arson at church (From Bournemouth Echo)

Arson at church

12:26pm Tuesday 21st November 2006

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POLICE are hunting arsonists who sparked a fire in an organ at a Bournemouth church yesterday which engulfed the roof of the Victorian building.

Eight crews of firefighters were called to St Ambrose church on West Cliff Road, Westbourne, after the alarm was raised at 2.25pm.

By the time emergency services arrived, just four minutes later, the church was well alight and the roof smouldering, with thick black smoke billowing inside the building.

A Dorset Fire and Rescue Service spokeswoman said a fire in a disused church organ had spread to the roof space.

She added: "Fortunately no-one was hurt in the building. A full investigation is being conducted with the police."

The scene was cordoned off and West Cliff Road was closed off to traffic at the Clarendon Road and Grosvenor Road junctions, with community support officers assisting with traffic control.

An aerial platform was used and the fire was contained by 3.15pm. By 4.15pm it had been extinguished.

Last night the roof was being dampened down and a police spokesman said a detailed forensic examination would be carried out as soon as Dorset Fire and Rescue Service confirmed it was safe for investigators to enter the building.

The road closures were lifted just after 5 pm.

A Dorset police spokesman said the cause of the fire was being treated as suspicious and appealed for witnesses to contact them in confidence.

He added: "We would like to hear from anyone who saw the fire start or heard anything suspicious or unusual in the vicinity at the time."

• The police can be contacted in confidence on 01202 222222 or callers can use the free and confidential Crimestoppers line on 0800 555111.

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