Boy, 12, is arrested on suspicion of arson after hearth in Crewe

A 12-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life after a huge blaze erupted in Crewe.

Emergency crews descended onto the scene after the inferno erupted at a disused warehouse on Frances Street at around 4:15pm on Friday. No injuries have been reported.

Firefighters are still trying to tackle the fire today, wearing breathing apparatus and using hose reel jets to do so. They have now been battling the blaze for more than 19 hours.

Some residents remain unable to return to their homes and are using Crewe Lifestyle Centre as temporary shelter.

With more than 250 homes evacuated and 150 properties without electricity, the force added that they are ‘working hard’ to return displaced residents to their homes.

A huge blaze that erupted at a disused warehouse has spread into several local residents gardens in Crewe

Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus are continuing to desperately tackle the fire using hose reel jets to dampen the flames as quickly as possible

Superintendent Claire Jesson said: ‘I’d like thank residents for their patience while emergency services continue to work tirelessly at the scene.

‘We understand people will want to get back into their properties as soon as they can, and we are all working hard to ensure that it is safe for you to do so. Agencies will continue to work with displaced residents to keep them updated as to when they can return.

‘While our colleagues from Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service tackle the fire, we continue to urge residents in the nearby area to stay indoors with their windows and doors closed at this time.’

A number of road closures remain in place while firefighters continue to dampen the flames.

A spokesman for Cheshire Police said: ‘Cheshire Fire and Rescue are currently dealing with a large commercial building fire in Crewe.

‘We have multiple patrols on scene with a cordon in place to ensure the safety of nearby residents.’

Last night there were reports of a drone being flown over the site of the fire.

Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service urged the public not to do so as it was ‘affecting the police drone from assisting us in tackling the fire’.

A spokesman for Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service said: ‘Fire crews are at the scene of a disused building fire.

‘Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus are using hose reel jets to dampen the flames as quickly as possible.’

The inferno erupted at a former printers (pictured) on Frances Street at around 4:15pm on Friday

Huge plumes of smoke could be seen over nearby residents’ houses some of which have been evacuated due to the huge blaze

Police and fire crews at the scene in Crewe earlier on Friday

In June, police found a large cannabis farm at the former printer on Frances Street.

The disused factory had been converted into a ‘sophisticated cannabis farm’ with ‘specialist lighting and ventilation systems to maximise the amount of class B drugs being cultivated.

At the time, Cheshire Police recovered more than 2,000 cannabis plants.