A large fire which broke out in County Durham on Tuesday night is being treated as suspicious.
Emergency crews were in attendance at the blaze at a derelict building at the junction of South Church Road in Kingsway in Bishop Auckland last night (December 7th).
A County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson confirmed that nobody was found to be injured as a result of the fire.
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They stated: “At approximately 9:20pm last night (Tuesday 8th of December) our crews were alerted to a large fire at a derelict building in Kingsway, Bishop Auckland.
"Six appliances from Bishop Auckland, Spennymoor, Crook, Newton Aycliffe, Durham, Darlington, and our Ariel ladder platform (ALP) from Durham attended the incident.
The spokesperson added: "Our crews used cutting equipment to gain entry into the property and were able to extinguish the fire using 3 jets and the Ariel ladder platform. We handed over the incident to our colleges at Durham Constabulary and left the scene at 1am this morning.
"Firefighters revisited at 4am to assess the scene.
"Fortunately, no one was injured but the road remains closed until further notice.”
A spokesperson for Durham Constabulary confirmed that the an investigation into the incident is ongoing and the fire is being treated as suspicious.
"Police were called to reports of a fire at a derelict building on Kingsway, Bishop Auckland shortly after 9.30pm last night (December 7).
"Officers closed Kingsway at the junction with South Church Road and Durham Road.
"The fire is being treated as arson and an investigation is currently ongoing."
The road remains closed while investigations continue.
