Cause of flat blaze being investigated

POLICE and firefighters are today investigating the cause of a blaze that left an Ipswich flat blackened by fire and smoke.

The emergency services arrived at the scene premises in Fore Street after being called by a shopkeeper around 11.20pm yesterday.

Firefighters searched the flat and were relieved to find it was unoccupied.

Ian Bowell, assistant divisional officer for the fire service's Ipswich district, said: "We were called to the incident after a shop owner saw fire coming through a window. He believed they may have been people inside.

"Four firefighters wearing breathing apparatus searched the flat.

"The building was completely smoke-logged and there was a fire we believed had been burning for some time. The fire had started in the living room.

"But I am pleased to say nobody was found inside."

Mr Bowell said the blaze has left the inside of the flat damaged by smoke.

He said: "There was some heavy smoke staining throughout the flat, the windows were blackened with smoke deposits and some items of furniture were damaged by the fire."

Fire investigation officers and scenes of crimes will today be investigating the cause of the fire.

Elsewhere crews were also called to reports of smoke coming from a flat in Needham Market.

One appliance form Needham and one from Stowmarket attended the incident in Stowmarket Road at 3.20pm yesterday.

Fire crews removed a pan from a cooker and ventilated the room.

Two fires in Ipswich school grounds are today believed to have been started deliberately.

Firefighters were called to a wheelie bin fire at Beacon Hill School, Stone Lodge Lane West, around 10.30pm yesterday and a skip fire in the grounds of St Mark's Catholic Primary School, Stone Lodge Lane West around 7.50pm yesterday.

A Suffolk Fire Service spokesman said both incidents were being treated as suspicious.

A fire crew was also called to a small van fire in Sandyhill Lane, Ipswich around 4.20am today.