Firefighters work through the night to tackle fire.

Evening Telegraph 20 February 2001

Clouds of thick black smoke could be seen up to five miles around Burton Latimer last night after the former Alumasc Sports and Social Club caught fire.

Firefighters were still at the scene this morning, having worked through the night to control the blaze, which was spotted by a resident of Bridle Road just after 7pm.

Residents of the area, which was thick with smoke, lined the pavement outside their homes as four fire engines turned up to tackle the fire, which wrecked the empty building.

Station Officer Neil Eaton said two crews originally attended. But as soon as they arrived and found the fire had taken hold, they called for two extra pumps and support vehicle.

Police also closed the road during the incident.

No-one was inside the building, which is set back from the street away from neighbouring properties.

Station Officer Eaton said "It is not possible to identify the cause at the moment, but obviously, that it was started deliberately is high on the list of possibilities."

One resident, who did not want to be named, said: "We didn't know what was happening, we just saw these huge black clouds appearing and then heard the fire engines turn up."

Several other people said a number of youngsters had been playing in the disused building recently.

Vandals re-ignited fire at social club.

Arsonists endanger lives and take up vital services

Evening Telegraph 21 February 2001 - by Gill Harris

Arsonists who set fire to a derelict building in Burton Latimer returned to start a second blaze after firefighters had spent 90 minutes putting out the first one.

The fire at the disused Sports and Social Club was brought under control by four fire crews and a back-up vehicle at 8.30pm on Sunday and they left the scene.
But just over two hours later at 10.45pm they got a call o say the blaze, which had left Bridle Road thick with black smoke, had been re-ignited.

They again got the fire under control and left a crew there overnight to make sure the blaze did not start a third time, finally leaving at 8am yesterday.

Assistant divisional officer for Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service, Ian Watson, said: "We sent four engines to the first incident.
"While we were there it meant we reduced the number of fire engines available for emergencies throughout the county.
"So people setting fires deliberately are putting other people's lives at risk as well as their own and those of the firefighters at the scene."

Crews returned yesterday at 11.30am and 4pm to check the situation.

Mr. Watson said: "We were able to stop the first fire quite quickly. But the second fire actually meant one engine had to remain at the scene and therefore wasn't available for any other incidents because it was there damping down.

"What we are saying to people is it was a deliberate fire and if anybody knows who started it we would ask them to get in touch with the police."

Police are now investigating. anyone with information is asked to call them on 01536 411411 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

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