Officers investigating fires in Tilbury and Pitsea

Detectives investigating two fires are appealing for witnesses and information to assist them.

A fire was discovered at a building in Howard Crescent, Pitsea, when a patrolling police crew came upon the incident shortly after midnight on Wednesday 6 March and alerted all emergency services.

The building sustained a partial roof collapse and internal fire and smoke damage.

In a second incident, staff conducting a routine visit to Tilbury Police Station, Civic Square, Tilbury discovered a fire shortly before 2pm, later the same day.

The building sustained fire and smoke damage.

This building is currently non-operational and was unoccupied at the time.

Thankfully, no one was injured in either fire.

'Working closely with colleagues'

Chief Superintendent Claire Talbot, who leads the investigation, said:

“Currently, we remain on scene at Tilbury Police Station whilst we carry out investigative enquiries. We’re continuing to work closely with colleagues in Essex County Fire and Rescue Service to establish the cause of both fires.
“Although both fires caused damage to each of the buildings, we are grateful that no one has been injured as a result.
“Our investigations are at an early stage, but investigators are keeping an open mind as to whether the two incidents are linked.
“However, I’d appeal to the public to help us find who is responsible for both fires – any information they may have, could help us.
“I’d ask anyone who was driving in the Pitsea and Tilbury areas at the relevant times to check their dash cam footage to see if they have captured anything that might help our investigation, to get in touch.”

The building in Howard Crescent, Pitsea, was previously part of the Essex Police estate but was sold in 2021.

Do you have any information?

If you have any information, CCTV, dash cam or other footage in relation to either incident, then please get in contact with us.

You can let us know by submitting a report on our website or by using our online Live Chat service available Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays) between 10am-9pm.

Visit www.essex.police.uk/digital101 to find out more about our website reporting services.

Alternatively, you can call us on 101.

In an emergency always call 999.

If you would like to make an anonymous report, you can contact independent charity on Twitter at @CrimestoppersUK, by visiting their website or by calling 0800 555 111.

Please quote the following references when providing any information to make sure it gets to the right person as quickly as possible:

Pitsea fire – crime reference 42/36213/24
Tilbury fire – crime reference 42/36165/24

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