KENT Police are questioning whether three fires involving major DIY stores in Kent are linked. The three incidents all occurred over the bank holiday weekend, 1-3 May and were all located within B&Q or Homebase stores.
Kent Fire and Rescue Services extinguished two fires over the weekend and were called to a B&Q store in Maidstone where the preparations of a blaze were found in an aisle of the store.
On Saturday 1 May, rescue services were called two separate fires, just an hour apart. The first incident came from a Homebase store in Aylesford after a fire broke out at around midday. Fire and Police officers remained at the scene until Monday, when the building was declared structurally unsafe, but the forensic team has yet been allowed access to the retail park.
Eighty firefighters from across the county tackled the blaze at the Quarry Wood industrial estate, which forced neighbouring stores and houses to be evacuated and the A20 to be closed. Police were treating the fire as suspicious, but are now reportedly looking at a link with a second fire.
A B&Q store in Larkfield reported a fire just one hour after the Aylesford blaze. Fortunately the incident was not as serious and the situation was controlled with the fire extinguished shortly after Firefighters arrived at the scene.
Two days later a third incident caused more concern, as the preparations of a fire were found in a wood aisle of another B&Q store, this time in Maidstone. The fire had not been started and the rescue services were quickly on hand to prevent any serious damage.
Kent Police’s Detective Superintendent Mick Judge said;
"We would like to hear from anyone who was at any of these stores who may have seen anything suspicious, around the time of the three incidents, over the bank holiday weekend. Please contact the incident room with any information you may have as it may prove vital to our investigation."
One man has been charged in connection with the incident at the B&Q store in Maidstone, but Police are still looking for further information and are looking into a possible link between the three incidents.
Anyone with any information can contact the incident room on 01622 654841. Alternatively contact Kent Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111
