A second fire in the space of a week has tore through the premises of a former pub in Gateshead.
Crews from Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service attended the scene of a blaze on Carlisle Street in Felling at the site of the former Malting House pub yesterday evening after 9.30pm (June 10). Another fire previously took place at the same venue on Wednesday evening (June 8).
Four fire engines were called to the scene, alongside an aerial ladder platform in order to tackle this latest blaze at the building.
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A spokeswoman for Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service confirmed the attendance of their crews last night with the blaze finally put out just after midnight. She said: "Our crews did attended the scene of a fire at the former Malting House pub premises in Felling last night following reports we received from 21.36pm.
"Four pumps were dispatched to the scene and an aerial ladder platform. Our crews eventually left the scene at 12.03am this morning (June 11)."
An investigation into the blaze which occurred only two days earlier has already been launched by officers and the incident is now being treated as a case of suspected arson. It is unknown whether this latest fire at the building is being treated as suspicious.
This incident also follows another fire in Felling that this week which took place derelict building on Coldwell Street in the early hours of Monday morning (June 6). A spokesperson from Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service confirmed yesterday that they will be assisting Northumbria Police with their enquiries into the two previous fires.
Station Manager for Gateshead Community Fire Station, Martin Farrow said: “We can confirm we attended fires at a commercial property on Coldwell Street and a derelict building on Carlisle Street both in Felling earlier this week.
“We do believe both of these fires were started deliberately but thankfully nobody was reportedly injured in either of the incidents and both fires were safely extinguished thanks to the fast response of our crews.
“The fires have taken place on two different evenings but we will be supporting Northumbria Police with their enquiries into both incidents and they will be investigating whether there is any connection.
Mr Farrow also added a plea for the public to refrain from engaging in behaviour of this sort in the future, saying: "Not only is deliberate fire-setting illegal but it is incredibly dangerous for residents and for those responsible.
"We would urge people to think twice about the consequences of this type of behaviour.
“We will continue to carry out engagement activity with the local community and with schools in the area but anyone with information about these particular incidents are encouraged to report it online through the police website, or you can call the independent charity FireStoppers anonymously on 0800 169 5558.”
Addressing the blaze which took place on Carlisle Street two nights previously, a Northumbria Police spokesperson said: “At about 9.30pm on Wednesday (June 8) we were alerted by the fire service to a blaze at a derelict premises on Carlisle Street, Felling.
“Nobody was injured. Officers are 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-20220608-1100.”
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