It took six fire engines to extinguish an inferno in the arcade at Ocean Beach Pleasure Park in South Shields on 26 December, with police now confirming the blaze is not being treated as malicious.
A large fire that ripped through Ocean Beach Pleasure Park in South Shields on Boxing Day is not being treated as malicious, police have confirmed.
Emergency services were called to the attraction on the evening of 26 December, with crews battling the flames throughout the night. At the height of the incident, six fire engines, specialist appliances and multiple officers were deployed as firefighters worked to contain and extinguish the fire. The blaze was eventually brought under control in the early hours of Saturday morning.
“Shortly before 6.40pm on Friday, we were alerted by Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service to a premises on fire on Sea Road in South Shields,” commented a spokesperson for Northumbria Police. “Emergency services attended the scene, and the fire was extinguished in the early hours.
“Enquiries into the cause of the fire have been ongoing, and it is not being treated as malicious.”
Photographs taken after the fire show the scale of the damage inside the arcade building. Roller shutters appear buckled and forced open, debris is scattered across the floor, and large sections of the ceiling have collapsed, exposing beams and insulation.”At the height of the incident, we had six fire engines, specialist appliances and four officers on scene,” a spokesperson for Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service confirmed.
“We cannot confirm the origin of the fire at this time, and we ask the public to keep away from the immediate area.”
Investigations into the cause of the fire are continuing, with messages of support for the park’s operators appearing on Facebook.
“I worked in that arcade 36 years ago, it’s devastating to see,” said Donna Marie Becks. “I hope Joseph, Micheal and Albert are all ok, and the twins Maxwell and Philip. So many memories it’s so sad to see. Hope it’s built back to its normal beauty.”
Jacqui Maire Belfield added: “Can we set up a go fund me page to help them get it rebuilt? I’d give them help.”
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Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Services said… “At the height of the incident, we had six fire engines, specialist appliances and four officers on scene…
