Investigators look for clues in rubble of blaze building

POLICE investigators searched for evidence in the rubble of a building destroyed in a blaze.

The fire, which broke out early on Sunday, caused major structural damage to the former cafe. Roads surrounding the building in Great Union Street, Hull, were sealed off to prevent traffic being hit by falling debris.

At the time several homeless people from a nearby hostel were unaccounted for but they have since turned up safe and well.

Both specialist Victim Recovery Officers and Scenes of Crime investigators are being used in the search as there is a faint possibility there may have been other people inside.

A statement issued by the force said: “Humberside Police is aware that the building is used by a large amount of homeless people on an irregular basis. Detectives have accounted for all the homeless people we know have used the building in the past and checked they are safe and well.

“However police can not discount that other people may have used the building and as a result we are making a safe search of the building, which is in a state of disrepair.”

Some 75 per cent of the building collapsed as the building went up. Group manager for Humberside Fire and Rescue Service Keith Evans said the fire was so intense that the roof went within 40 minutes of his arriving on scene. Despite the building’s collapse, he said there was a good chance of finding forensic evidence as they dug down through layers to the seat of the fire. “Hopefully the building will have collapsed on top of it and that will have protected it,” he said.

Two men arrested in connection with the incident have been charged with arson, recklessly endangering life.