Police treating fire that gutted home as arson

The property was badly damaged by the fire

A fire that caused severe damage to a Derbyshire home is being treated as arson, say police.

Emergency services were called to Duffield on Friday after fire broke out in a property in Burley Hill.

Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service advised residents in the area to keep doors and windows closed as crews from Derby, Ashbourne and Belper brought the fire under control.

Derbyshire Police were also called to the house, which was “extensively damaged” by the fire.

A joint fire and police investigation is now under way into the cause of the fire, with police treating it as deliberate.

Fire crews were joined at the scene by police officers

A Derbyshire fire spokesperson said: “Crews from Nottingham Road, Kingsway, Belper, Ascot Drive and Ashbourne, including an aerial ladder platform, a water carrier, and a welfare unit, were in attendance.

“On arrival, crews discovered a well-established house fire. The building's occupants were not present, and no injuries were reported. There was extensive fire damage to the house.

“A joint police and fire investigation into the cause of the fire remains ongoing.”

Anyone with information is asked to make contact, say Derbyshire Police.

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