Police have confirmed that they are treating a fire on a South Tyneside industrial estate as suspected arson.
Dramatic drone footage has been released today (Monday) showing more than 50 firefighters battled a blaze at a premises on Pilgrimsway on the Bede Industrial Estate in the early hours of Sunday morning. A total of 52 firefighters were involved with 10 crews sent to the area, along with two Aerial Ladder Platform vehicles and a drone unit.
At its height, the fire covered an area bigger than 10,000 square metres and Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service stationed two crews at the site throughout Sunday. A police cordon was established as Northumbria Police launched an investigation, and the force has now confirmed that the fire may have been started deliberately.
Read more: Major fire breaks out at Tyneside industrial estate as investigation launched
The cordon is still in place and a police car was still present at the scene on Monday lunchtime. It was confirmed on Sunday that no-one was unaccounted for following the fire.
A Northumbria Police spokesperson said: “An investigation is ongoing following a fire at a premises on Bede Industrial Estate in the early hours of Sunday (July 2). Officers are currently treating the cause of the fire as suspected arson.
"Anyone with information is asked to contact police via the ‘Tell us Something’ page of our website or by calling 101 quoting log NP-20230702-0044."
Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service says the will now support the Northumbria Police investigation. Lynsey McVay, chief fire officer, said: "The drone footage we have released today shows the scale of this particular fire and I again want to thank everyone involved in the response, and our partners who supported the operation.
"We have had a number of large incidents in recent weeks and I want to reiterate it is not just the crews on the scene who have done so well, there is also a large team that sits behind them and they have dealt with the incidents amazingly well."
