An 18-year-old man from Leek has been taken into custody following a major fire at The Big Mill, a historic Grade-II listed building in the Staffordshire market town.
Staffordshire Police confirmed the arrest on suspicion of arson with recklessness as to whether life was endangered.
Officers received reports of the blaze at the Mill Street property at 9.35pm on Friday evening.
The suspect remains in police custody as investigations continue.
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Staffordshire police said in a statement: "Officers put various road closures in place within the cordon and supported residents who had been evacuated from their homes as a precaution.
"An 18-year-old man, from Leek, has been arrested on suspicion of arson with recklessness as to whether life was endangered.
"He remains in custody."
Detectives are appealing for anyone with relevant information, CCTV, dashcam or doorbell footage to contact police on 101, quoting incident number 733 of 27 March, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Historic Grade-II listed Big Mill 'fully alight' as locals told to stay away | FACEBOOK/THIS IS LEEK STAFFORDSHIREHis arrest came after dozens of firefighters rushed to the scene overnight to combat the blaze, which engulfed the historic landmark.
At the time, a fire service spokesman said: "We have six crews and an aerial ladder platform at the scene of a large fire at The Big Mill, Mill Street, Leek."
Road closures were implemented around the scene, while nearby residents were moved from their homes as a precautionary measure.
No injuries have been reported in connection with the incident.
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Six crews and an aerial ladder platform at the scene were rushed to the scene of the blaze
|STAFFORDSHIRE FIRE AND RESCUE
Firefighters were alerted to smoke and flames emerging from the building at 9.22pm, with as many as six crews deployed to tackle the inferno at its peak.
An aerial ladder platform was also brought in to assist with the operation.
The A523 Macclesfield Road connecting to Mill Street was blocked in both directions between Church Street and Churnet Way due to the incident.
Police had directed evacuated residents to the Co-op on West Street for assistance.
Leek served as a centre for Britain's silk industry, with both the Wellington Mill and Big Mill listed on Historic England | GETTYEmergency services had urged motorists to avoid the area, warning that traffic near the scene was hampering response efforts.
Those living nearby had been advised to keep windows and doors shut owing to the substantial smoke still emanating from the structure.
Station Manager Jonathan Ashby said: "The fire is under control but has yet to be extinguished as crews are unable to enter the building at this time."
He added: "The large cordon is still in place and we're expected to be in the area for some time whilst we work to bring the incident to a safe and swift conclusion."
The Big Mill is of considerable significance to the region's industrial heritage, having been built in 1857 as a centre for silk production.
Architect William Sugden designed the building, which Historic England describes as an "important example of large-scale building for the silk industry" and a fine representation of the mill style he developed during his time working in Leek.
The property was first granted listed status in 1972.
A council report from last year indicated the building was unoccupied but had been earmarked for redevelopment.
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