A HUGE fire that ripped through a derelict college building in Poole is believed to have been started deliberately.

Around 40 firefighters rushed to the blaze at the former college site off Constitution Hill Road at 3.45pm on Sunday, February 5. 

Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service said the incident has been passed to Dorset Police for investigation.

A reinspection of the site will be carried out in daylight this morning.

Bournemouth Echo:

A Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “Because the roof has fallen within the building, a full fire investigation has not been possible as it is not safe to go inside.

"However, it is believed the fire was started deliberately and this has been passed to Dorset Police.

“No injuries were reported.”

'Like an inferno': Huge blaze tears through derelict school in Poole

At the height of the incident, fire crews were on scene from Poole, Springbourne, Westbourne, Redhill Park, Hamworthy and Wimborne, together with support units from Hamworthy and Ferndown, water carriers from Ringwood and Eastleigh, and the aerial ladder platform from Westbourne.

The fire was brought under control by 5.30pm and resources were scaled back through the evening, with the stop message coming at 11.05pm.

Bournemouth Echo:  Picture: Finley Neville-jones Picture: Finley Neville-jones

All crews left the scene by 11.15pm.

A Dorset Police spokesperson said: "We received a report at 3.50pm on Sunday 5 February 2023 from the fire service, which was in attendance at a property fire involving an unoccupied building in the area of Constitution Hill Road.

"Officers attended and assisted with road closures.

"Enquiries are ongoing to establish the cause of the fire, which is believed to be suspicious. No arrests have been made."

As reported, witnesses said the fire was “out of control” within 20 minutes.

Robert Foster was in the Sweet Home Inn when he got a text alerting him to the fire. He said: "I then ran back up the hill from the pub and that’s when I saw the whole building on fire."