AN arsonist started three fires at separate premises in Ardwick Street, Burnley.

The firebug started one fire in a back yard, another in the kitchen of an empty house and the third in an outhouse of an occupied property.

Station officer Paul Harvey said: "The common factor was that all three properties were insecure.

"Often these fires are started simply because the opportunity is there. We appeal to people to make their properties secure."

Smoke from the kitchen fire spread into the occupied house next door.

The empty house is undergoing renovation after being badly damaged in an earlier fire.

While firefighters were dealing with that incident they were alerted to the fire in the outhouse further along the street. A bike, electric fire and old timber were destroyed.

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