POLICE believe a fire which badly damaged a disused building at West Liss was arson.
The wooden former engineering works was well alight on Sunday afternoon when the fire service reached it.
Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service described the cause of the blaze as doubtful and investigations are proceeding in conjunction with the police.
The fire was in the first-floor offices of the former engineering works at Sparkhams Yard, Farnham Road.
The back door had been left open and firefighters in breathing apparatus had to search the building to make sure no one was inside.
Five appliances attended Ð two from Petersfield, and one each from Bordon, Liphook and Alton.
The special equipment unit from Copnor was also on site with the Winchester incident command unit and the Havant multi-role vehicle.
Firemen used eight sets of breathing apparatus, two jets and two hose reels in tackling the blaze.
The fire service was called at 4-25 pm and the fire was out at 5-37 pm. The first floor offices were destroyed and the rest of the building was heavily smoke logged.
The works was last occupied about two-and-a-half years ago by a panel beating company but since then it has been empty.
Police believe that local youngsters had been using it for skateboarding and had built a ramp.
An application to build 24 flats on the site was turned down by East Hampshire District Council.
Liss Parish Council was concerned at the loss to the village of an industrial site. The applicant is appealing against the decision.