ARSONISTS are being blamed after plant machinery was torched close to the roadworks for the new Pennine Reach busway.
Firefighters said a rag containing flammable fluid was used to set fire to the fuel inlet of a Cat commercial digger on a demolition site in Cherry Street, Blackburn, just before 4pm on Saturday.
They managed to stop the vehicle from being completely destroyed.
They said children had been seen in the area earlier.
Blackburn Station crew manager Lee Garnett said: "This deliberate act caused a delay in fire engines from Blackburn in attending more important emergency calls in the area for approximately 30 minutes.
"Deliberate fires can cost lives. They also put a strain on fire service resources that may be required elsewhere."
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