Cannabis set-up discovered after fire at Kilnhurst pub
A CANNABIS set-up has been discovered after a fire engulfed two floors of a pub in Kilnhurst this morning (Thursday), police said.
Five fire crews battled the fire at the Ship Inn for almost three hours — and police were called to the scene after an "abandoned cannabis growing set-up was found inside the building".
"There was an incident at 4am this morning at the Ship Inn in Hooton Road, Kilnhurst, there was a fire on both floors and five fire crews were on scene," said a spokesman for South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue.
"The cause has gone down as deliberate and the crews left at 6.50am."
Police and the fire service described the pub as "disused".
A South Yorkshire Police spokeswoman added: "As the fire was large the road was closed to enable five pumps to gain control of the site. The road re-opened just before 8am.
"Nobody was injured and investigations are ongoing into the cause of the fire, however, an abandoned cannabis growing set-up was found inside the building."
An investigation is now underway and police will remain at the scene throughout the day, she added.