Blaze strikes sports centre
By Beck Pinkney on Thursday, 17th June 1999.
ONE HUNDRED people were led to safety after a blaze broke out at Haverhill Leisure Centre.
Five fire engines were called to the scene after staff spotted smoke coming from the building.
The fire, which affected part of the roof, broke out at 5pm on Tuesday.
Eric Armstrong, centre manager, said: "Staff noticed smoke outside the building and I went to investigate with a colleague.
"We activated the alarms and started to follow procedures to evacuate the building.
"The fire was in a section of the roof above the dance studio," he said.
Mr Armstrong stressed the centre would continue to operate as usual and apologised to customers for the inconvenience.
Carl Francis, assistant divisional officer with Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service, said staff had already emptied the building when his officers arrived.
He said firefighters had been at some risk from a propane cylinder on the roof which had to be cooled down carefully and removed.
"The initial message we received, from leading fire officer Dave Bax, was that the fire was well alight and involved a large portion of the Sports Centre roof," he said.
"We used officers with breathing apparatus and two jets and the fire was brought quickly under control."
Mr Francis said some work was being carried out to resurface the roof of the building and a full investigation would be carried out to establish the cause of the fire.
Five fire engines were called to the scene after staff spotted smoke coming from the building.
The fire, which affected part of the roof, broke out at 5pm on Tuesday.
Eric Armstrong, centre manager, said: "Staff noticed smoke outside the building and I went to investigate with a colleague.
"We activated the alarms and started to follow procedures to evacuate the building.
"The fire was in a section of the roof above the dance studio," he said.
Mr Armstrong stressed the centre would continue to operate as usual and apologised to customers for the inconvenience.
Carl Francis, assistant divisional officer with Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service, said staff had already emptied the building when his officers arrived.
He said firefighters had been at some risk from a propane cylinder on the roof which had to be cooled down carefully and removed.
"The initial message we received, from leading fire officer Dave Bax, was that the fire was well alight and involved a large portion of the Sports Centre roof," he said.
"We used officers with breathing apparatus and two jets and the fire was brought quickly under control."
Mr Francis said some work was being carried out to resurface the roof of the building and a full investigation would be carried out to establish the cause of the fire.
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