The second fire in a month at a former cannabis farm is not being treated as suspicious by police at this time.
A Cheshire Constabulary spokesperson confirmed to the ECHO today that officers believed the cause of the fire to not be suspicious. Firefighters were called to the former cannabis farm on Hale Road, Widnes, in a detached house formerly owned by ex-Liverpool player Jermaine Pennant, for a second time in a month at around 8.30pm on Tuesday, November 1.
The spokesperson said officers on patrol in the Hale Road area came across the house when it was on fire. Fire crews from five engines subsequently worked through the night battling the blaze - and remained at the scene until yesterday morning.
READ MORE: Fire rips through former cannabis farm in abandoned mansion for second time in a month
Police closed Hale Road while fire crews dealt with the incident. The ECHO understands the road was reopened shortly after 12am as fire relief crews took over and dampened down hot spots of fire at the house.
The fire this week was the second in a month following a blaze at the abandoned mansion on October 10. Cheshire Constabulary confirmed the fire on October 10 was being treated as deliberate, with Detective Constable Rich Gray, of Widnes CID, adding they were aware the address has "attracted a lot of attention".
It is understood Pennant, who played for LFC between 2006 and 2009, bought the mansion for just over £1m in 2006. The property has stood empty since 2020.
The property was subject of a drugs warrant carried out earlier this year when officers discovered a cannabis farm and seized multiple plants. A 35-year-old man was arrested and released on bail before being transferred to West Midlands Police.
Officers received further intelligence of a cannabis farm at the same property in September but no plants were found during their search. The scale of the latest cannabis farm was revealed on social media by an urban explorer who filmed himself in the mansion.
Following the fire this week crews monitored the building with thermal imaging equipment to check for fire hot spots. Crews ensured hot spots were dampened down before handing over the five-bedroom house to building inspectors.
The Cheshire Constabulary spokesperson today told the ECHO : At around 8.20pm on Tuesday 1 November, officers on patrol in the Hale Road area of Widnes came across a house that was on fire. With assistance from Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service, the fire was distinguished.
"Road closures were temporarily in place as a safety precaution. The cause of the fire is not believed to be suspicious at this time."
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