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Update: Little Learners Nursery closed after suspicious fire near Landseer Park
A fire broke out in Landseer Park on Wednesday. Pic: Peter Chambers. - Credit: Archant
A nursery damaged in a fire near Landseer Park in Ipswich last night is closed today.
Little Learners Nursery, based in Landseer Play Centre, Hogarth Road, sustained minor structural and smoke damage after a blaze in the open between the nursery and the adjacent Ipswich Furniture Project. - Credit: Archant
Little Learners Nursery, based in Landseer Play Centre, Hogarth Road, sustained minor structural and smoke damage after a suspicious blaze in the open space between the nursery and the Ipswich Furniture Project.
A number of fridge freezers stored in the yard by the Ipswich Furniture Project were set alight at around 6.20pm. Five fire engines were called and the blaze had been extinguished and brought under control by 7.45pm. There were no injuries.
Today, police said it is still not known what caused the blaze or if it is being treated as arson. Crime scene investigators carried out an initial investigation last night, due to finish today, to determine if the fire was started deliberately.
Police had earlier said that a group of youngsters had told officers at the scene that the fire was started by a male who “jumped over a fence” and threw an “ignited substance” near the nursery.
Little Learners Nursery, based in Landseer Play Centre, Hogarth Road, sustained minor structural and smoke damage after a blaze in the open between the nursery and the adjacent Ipswich Furniture Project. - Credit: Archant
Steve Rhind, station commander of the Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service, said: “The fire service was mobilised to a fire in the open. Upon further investigation, it was found that there were some fridge freezers in the open stored in the yard which were well alight upon arrival.
“We deployed jets, hose reels, and breathing apparatus to bring the fire under control, and then it was a case of damping down, going in to the nursery to check the integrity (of the building).
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“The nursery will be closed tomorrow due to not being able to be cleaned and also because of the smell of the smoke which got inside.
“There are some toilet vents which have come through the wall (of the nursery), and because they are plastic they have melted.”
Mr Rhind added that police are expected to study CCTV evidence on Thursday.
Hayman Road and a nearby public entrance to Landseer Park were closed off by police until 8pm yesterday.
