A fire that engulfed an old chapel in the Derwent Valley overnight and left more than half of the building in flames was deliberately lit.
The former Royal Derwent Hospital Chapel on Glebe Road in New Norfolk went up in flames around 6:15pm on Monday night.
The building was currently being used as a storage space, with Bridgewater Police Acting Inspector Richard Penney saying he was thankful there were no occupants inside at the time.
A firewatch was put in place overnight and investigations by the Tasmania Fire Service this morning have determined that the blaze was deliberate.
People that may have seen “suspicious activity in the area” around the time of the fire are being asked to contact police on 131 444 or Crimestoppers.
The incident comes just days after New Norfolk Mayor Michelle Dracoulis voiced concerns about criminals exploiting the limited police presence in the town to commit crimes.
Dracoulis, along with Labor MPs Jen Butler and Rebecca White, called for an increased police presence around the clock in the region, saying locals are feeling unsafe in the area.
“People are taking advantage of knowing when the police are and aren’t here,” Dracoulis said.
