Search for missing homeless man as Preston fire investigators told 'people may be sleeping rough within building'

Lancashire Police have issued a missing person appeal after receiving information that people may have been sleeping rough within the site of a derelict building that caught fire this week. Police have released an update as they continue to investigate the circumstances around the fire in Preston.

Emergency services were called around 6.30pm on Tuesday (November 12) to a report of a fire at a property near to the city centre in Church Street. In an update released tonight (Friday, November 15), Lancashire Police confirmed they have information people may have been sleeping rough in the building and that a search is forming part of the activity on site.

They have also issued an appeal to find a missing homeless man, Marcin Kozierowski, 37, as part of these enquiries to ensure he is 'safe and well.' Yesterday evening (Thursday, November 14) work began on a partial demolition of the site, with a road closure put in place.

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The closures are Manchester Road and Church Street, Church Row and Church Street and Guild Row and Church Street, with diversions in place. Further work has taken place today (Friday, November 15) and is expected to continue into the weekend.

A joint investigation between police and fire services is ongoing and we are working with partners, including Preston City Council and Lancashire County Council. Supt Gary Crowe, of Lancashire Police said: “This remains very much a multi-agency operation to manage the response to a fire in Church Street, Preston.

“We have received information around the possibility of people sleeping rough within the building and this is forming part of our enquiries, including a search to find a missing man. Some demolition work has started and is expected to continue into the weekend, with road closures and diversions in place.

“We continue to monitor the situation and will update you in due course.”

If you have any information, please contact police on 101, quoting log 1197 of November 12.