Firefighters from Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service (LFRS) worked overnight to bring the fire at the nursery building under control using six fire appliances and an aerial ladder platform.
Describing the incident as a “large fire involving a commercial building,” the service also took to Twitter to advise residents to keep doors and windows closed as the fire was creating a “smoke plume.” After checking that any hotspots and remaining embers had been extinguished, fire crews finally left the scene on Sunday afternoon.
Highfield Priory Day Nursery
Nursery class has now been moved into the main school building for the foreseeable future
The fire has sadly destroyed the nursery building, and a spokesperson for Highfield Priory Day Nursery said they were "shocked and saddened by the senseless destruction of its nursery building."
"Mr. Duke (the head teacher) would like to thank the Preston community for its kindness and generosity, with offers of books and toys for the children," the spokesperson added.
"He would also like to thank the emergency services who worked so tirelessly to bring the fire under control on Saturday night and to make the site safe for the children by Monday morning."
Lancashire Police
Lancashire Police are treating the fire as suspicious and arrested four 14-year-old boys on “suspicion of criminal damage – arson not endangering life.” They have since been released on bail.
The nursery class has now been moved into the main school building for the foreseeable future, and the police are appealing on Twitter for “witnesses, CCTV, and dashcam footage.”
Detective Inspector George Binns, of Preston CID, said: “While we have made a number of arrests, our investigation is very much ongoing and I would appeal to anyone who saw anything suspicious in the area, or anyone who has information that could assist our enquiries, to get in touch”?