Arson investigation underway after two 'linked' fires in Greater Manchester

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Police are treating two fires at a derelict building in Middleton as arson, it has been confirmed. The first blaze broke out at the building on Morton Street at around 8:30pm on Wednesday.

Firefighters spent around two and a half hours tackling it with police also being called in. There was then a second fire at the same property, the former premises of construction firm Bemus, on Thursday night.

Three fire engines attended with crews spending five hours at the scene extinguishing it and making it safe. The area outside the building remained taped off on Friday with police officers in white forensic suits, and specialist search dogs being seen working inside the scene. READ MORE: Busy junction taped off as emergency services descend following crash Greater Manchester Police (GMP) have now confirmed the fires are being treated as linked and that a single arson investigation into both was underway.

Locals said the building had been " set on fire two nights in a row." A woman who lives on the street said she was woken up on Wednesday night to the sound of emergency services and “drilling” on the street.