A Northumberland forest school that has brought joy to more than 5,000 youngsters with additional needs has been destroyed by a fire.
Clarty Commandos in Howick was burnt to the ground by the blaze which tore through the woodland on Wednesday, February 22. Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that two engines were called to the blaze at 6.01pm and spent almost two hours tackling the fire before leaving the scene at 7.55pm.
A fire service spokeswoman for the service said that the cause of the fire is "not believed to be suspicious", however, they were unable to disclose any further details on how the fire started.
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Mark Tuff, who founded the voluntary-run organisation five years ago, has been left devastated by the fire which comes just 14 months after he repaired the damage caused by Storm Arwen.
"We have standard operational procedures before we leave the site and check everything twice to make sure there are no hazards or any type of lingering embers or combustible things lying around that could start fires," he said.
"When we left at 4pm everything was spot on. I was just sitting down to eat at 5.40pm when I got a call to say that the woodland was on fire.
"We went to the woodland very quickly and I saw the main fire pit area was on fire as well as the place where we store all of our kit. Everything is obviously gone.
"But we weren't working in that area at all so that is what we find very strange. We had no combustible materials in the area where the fire allegedly started so we have no idea how it could start."
The 52-year-old believes it will cost more than £10,000 to rebuild the forest school and replace the tools he uses in his job as a tree surgeon that were also on site. However, generous supporters have so far helped to raise £4,000 via a Go Fund Me page to help get Clarty Commandos back up and running again.
Mark said that people from across Northumberland have also volunteered to help repair the damage and work is under way to clear the site.
"People can't believe what has happened and want to make things right and get us back in the right direction as quickly as possible," he said.
"We have been inundated with support and help. I can't thank people enough. This is the second time in 14 months we have had to rebuild as we had to rebuild after Storm Arwen."
Mark believes it will take three months to return the site to how it was. However, he said he hopes to be back open within a month once new tools have been ordered, as there is another part of the woodland that has been untouched by the fire.
He continued: "I don't want to let the kids down. It makes me want to soldier on and keep going for them."
To donate to the fundraiser visit: https://gofund.me/1140621b
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