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Home » News & Events » 2015 » May » Crews tackle deliberate fire at Worcester sports club

Crews tackle deliberate fire at Worcester sports club

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Fire crews dealt with a fire at a well-known sports club in Worcester overnight that has caused severe damage to the building and is suspected of being arson. At 8.55pm last night (Monday 18 May), Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service was called to a fire at the Archdale's 73 Club on Windermere Drive.

Four engines attended – three from Worcester and one from Droitwich – and six firefighters used breathing apparatus to conduct a full search of the premises because of concerns people may have been in the building. However, the search found the building was empty and there were no casualties.

The fire led to a complete closure of Windermere Drive by West Mercia Police.

Crews spent the night controlling the fire using several hose reels as well as cutting away some of the building to dampen it down, and the fire was confirmed as extinguished as 4.15am, although crews stayed at the site to monitor any hotspots.

Station Commander Toby Kempton from Worcester Fire Station said: "We believe the fire at Archdale's 73 was started deliberately because there were multiple seats of fire that we had to tackle.

"This is very frustrating because whoever started this fire has put at risk the lives of the firefighters who had to go into the building to ensure no one was in danger, which anyone can imagine is a hazardous task.

"We will be working with our colleagues at West Mercia Police, who will be launching an arson investigation. Please contact the police on the 101 non-emergency number if you have any information about who may have started this fire."

SC Kempton went on to praised the crew that attended for their quick actions at the scene. He added: "The teams' rapid firefighting quickly contained the blaze and prevented it spreading beyond the areas of where the fires had started."


Issued by:
Toby Shergold
Corporate Communications Manager
Tel: 01905 368 312
TShergold@hwfire.org.uk