Building fire blamed on tree cuttings being lit

Sonia Kataria
BBC News, East Midlands
JDA Digital Plumes of black smoke from a fire at a former quarry in Matlock, DerbyshireJDA Digital
The fire service said smoke from the blaze could be "seen several miles away"

The deliberate burning of tree cuttings was the likely cause of a fire at a derelict building in Derbyshire, a joint police and fire investigation has found.

Emergency services were called to the blaze at a former quarry site in Dale Road, Matlock, at 17:07 BST on Friday.

Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service said nearby tree cuttings were set alight and flames then spread to the empty property.

Seven fire crews, two water carriers and an aerial ladder platform were sent to the scene at the height of the blaze, the fire service added.

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