MASSON MILLS FIRE: Police appeal to find key witnesses

Up to 20 firefighters from Matlock, Wirksworth, Ripley and Ashbourne were called out to tackle a fire at the shopping centre at around 5pm on Saturday, December 12.

The force are keen to speak with two males who spoke with the fire service at the scene after the fire took place on Saturday, December 12.

One of the males is described as aged in his late teens or early twenties, wearing glasses.

The second male os aged in his 30s, also wearing glasses.

Crews were initially called out at 5.06pm to reports that a lift shaft in the building was well alight, causing the centre to be evacuated.

Crews used six breathing apparatus and two hose reel jets to tackle the fire and at one point it was thought that there may be people trapped within the centre.

At 6.45pm fire crews received the message that all persons were now accounted for and the incident was declared closed after the fire was extinguished.

And shoppers seemed unconcerned about the fire despite the lingering smell of smoke around the entrance which was the only sign of the previous night’s events.

A force spokesman said that at this stage, it is not known whether the cause of this fire is malicious.

The centre was open as usual yesterday.

If you know who the males are, or you have any information regarding the fire, please call Derbyshire Police on 101 quoting incident 492 of 12/12/2015.