Teen Arrested After Massive Blaze Destroys Historic Leek Silk Mill
An 18-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of arson after a furious fire tore through Leek’s iconic silk mill on Friday night.
Fire Crews Race to Tackle Inferno
The alarm sounded at 9.22pm when thick smoke and flames erupted from the mill on Mill Street. Six fire crews scrambled to the scene, teaming up with Staffordshire Police to battle the raging blaze.
Officers quickly sealed off roads and evacuated nearby homes as a safety precaution. A large cordon remains in place, with firefighters unable to enter the damaged building just yet.
“The fire is under control but has yet to be extinguished as crews are unable to enter the building at this time,” said Station Manager Jonathan Ashby. “The large cordon is still in place, and we expect to be in the area for some time whilst we work to bring the incident to a safe and swift conclusion.”
Suspect Held Over Reckless Arson
The Leek man was taken into custody on suspicion of arson with recklessness about endangering lives. He remains in police custody as investigations press on.
Luckily, no one was hurt during the terrifying fire. Residents nearby have been warned to keep windows and doors tightly shut due to lingering smoke.
Cause of Fire Still Unknown
A Staffordshire Fire & Rescue spokesperson confirmed, “We are still working at the scene of a fire at a building in Leek.” The exact cause remains under investigation and will be announced when determined.
