Arson Suspected in Fire at Grade II Listed Building

An abandoned Grade II listed building sustained significant damage in a fire, which authorities are investigating as arson. The incident was described as “horrific.” On November 18, at 20:45 GMT, emergency services from Colchester, Coggeshall, Chelmsford, and Tiptree responded to a call regarding a substantial derelict structure located on London Road in Copford. Upon their arrival, four firefighting crews discovered the unstable building, formerly known as the Copford Place care home, fully engulfed in fire. Utilizing an aerial ladder platform, firefighters successfully brought the blaze under control by midnight. They continued to monitor the site overnight to guarantee its complete safety. The structure, which is recognized on the National Heritage List for England, suffered damage from the fire. An inquiry into the incident’s origin will commence once conditions permit safe access. According to Crew manager Pete Woodiwiss, firefighters were compelled to combat the fire from the exterior because of the building’s instability and the presence of scaffolding. He further stated: “Crews worked incredibly hard in challenging conditions.“Access to the site was difficult, and water supply issues added to the complexity of the incident.“Despite this, firefighters were able to bring the fire under control and extinguish it within a few hours.” Eyewitness Joffy Karippai remarked that the potential repercussions of the fire could have been significantly more severe, given the site’s close proximity to the New Copford Place care home. He commented: “It was horrific and it could have been a disaster as there is a care home behind the building with elderly residents in it.“Some of the building has collapsed but there are a lot of trees behind it, and dry leaves can spread fire, [so yes, it could have been much worse].” Essex Police has since confirmed that it is investigating reports of arson, stating that “enquiries are ongoing.”