A man has been arrested in connection with a fire at a disused workshop in Harrogate last month.
Five fire crews attended the blaze, took place at the site of the former Jewson building on Skipton Road on Friday, January 26.
Police guarded the scene for nearly two weeks after the incident.
North Yorkshire Police today told the Stray Ferret it was now treating the fire as “suspicious”.
The force said in a statement:
“A man aged in his 30s has been arrested in connection with the investigation and has since been released on police bail to allow for further enquiries to be carried out.
“Due to the suspicious nature of the incident and the presence of chemicals in the building, police remained at the scene of the incident until the property was cleaned and made safe. This was to allow investigators to examine the scene and to keep members of the public safe.
“The investigation is ongoing.”
The Stray Ferret reported live from the scene at the time, as black smoke billowed across the area and traffic was diverted during evening rush hour.
Eyewitness photos of the smoke.
Police closed Skipton Road.
Police and North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue issued a joint appeal for witnesses following the incident.
The cause of the fire has not yet been revealed.
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