Teenagers arrested after huge fire on Canterbury's historic high street

KentOnline / KMTV

The fire service and officers remained at at the scene days on from the fire. Today, Kent Police saying two 15-year-old boys remain in custody while they investigate.

Transcript

00:00The scene in Canterbury, days after a fire in the high street.

00:06At the height of the incident, eight fire engines, two height vehicles and 50 firefighters

00:11were at the derelict department store.

00:13But still, we don't know what caused the fire in what used to be a Debenhams.

00:20Kent Police have said a 15-year-old boy from the local area attended Canterbury Police

00:25Station and was arrested shortly afterwards on suspicion of arson.

00:29And today, another 15-year-old boy, but from Ashford, was arrested in connection with the

00:34incident and remains in custody.

00:38Businesses were closed and the high street cordoned off on Tuesday, but now some can

00:43reopen.

00:44Two fire engines and a height vehicle are still on the scene.

00:47And as this incident was so close to one of the city's, county's and country's key

00:53historical landmarks, there were concerns the fire would spread.

00:57We love our city centre, it's important to us, but I want to say now, I'm incredibly

01:04grateful to the work and efforts of the Kent Fire and Rescue, they've been amazing in stopping

01:10what could have been an absolute catastrophe with our city centre, in such old buildings

01:16which are difficult to fight fires in.

01:19We thank them from the bottom of my heart.

01:21We have to remember, a city centre is a home for many, many people too.

01:26Around 20 people were displaced, temporarily moved out of their homes above the shops in

01:30the high street and put up in hotels by the council.

01:34Kent Fire and Rescue Service have said that due to the complexity of the incident, crews

01:38are not yet able to access the site, but a full investigation with partner agencies will

01:44take place when this is possible.

01:47Abbey Hook for KMTV in Canterbury.

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