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Newport fire: Arson arrests after club and church gutted in blaze | |
(35 minutes later) | |
Two people have been arrested on suspicion of arson following a huge fire which gutted a 130-year-old church and a former nightclub. | |
The Grade-II listed Bethel Community Church on Stow Hill in Newport was destroyed after the fire spread from a derelict nightclub next door. | |
Around 95 firefighters and police officers were at the scene on Friday and crews were still dealing with the smouldering buildings on Saturday. | |
No-one is thought to have been hurt. | No-one is thought to have been hurt. |
Gwent Police is appealing for witnesses and has asked for help in identifying people who were inside the derelict club at about 18:00 BST on Friday. | |
It has also emerged that concerns about the state of the former nightclub, which closed in 2010, had been raised to officials days before the blaze. | |
Newport Conservatives said they emailed the local council on 7 June calling for the former Zanzibar and Heights 2000 club to be inspected due to "fear this could collapse or end up going up in flames." | Newport Conservatives said they emailed the local council on 7 June calling for the former Zanzibar and Heights 2000 club to be inspected due to "fear this could collapse or end up going up in flames." |
Newport council has been asked to comment. | Newport council has been asked to comment. |
The local authority carried out an "enforcement inspection", but the local Tory group want an investigation into why the council did not carry out a "full site inspection" - as they claim officers did not enter the building. | |
Newport Conservative activist Michael Enea said he emailed the council after worried residents contacted him. | |
They came following an online video showing people walking around the derelict building, which is full of debris and loose wires. | |
"There were quite a few concerns about the state of the building," he added. | |
"The roof had totally collapsed and caved in, the building was totally derelict." | |
The blaze broke out in the former nightclub, which was most recently called Escapade, and spread to the church just after 18:15 BST on Friday. | |
Crews from Cardiff helped their Newport colleagues tackle the flames - and at its height 19 appliances, including 10 fire engines, were used. | |
About 40 people were evacuated from the area and those residents are still "displaced" mostly at Newport Centre, a leisure centre in the heart of the city. | About 40 people were evacuated from the area and those residents are still "displaced" mostly at Newport Centre, a leisure centre in the heart of the city. |
Fire officers, along with Gwent Police and Newport council, are now preparing to launch a joint investigation into the cause of the blaze. | |
Pastor Andrew Cleverly described the church's charred remains as "a traumatic scene". | |
"The church building is completely razed to the ground, it's just four walls left," he added. | |
"It was very sad - a lot of people were upset, holding hands and crying - there was absolutely nothing you could do. | |
"Our building may be gone, but the church is alive." | |
Two crews were still at the scene on Saturday dampening down "hotspots" in the building. | |
David Bents, of South Wales Fire and Rescue Service."There is extensive damage to both the church and the nightclub. | |
"We have high walls, debris sitting on high walls and ledges which causes danger to the public - so cordons are still in place." | "We have high walls, debris sitting on high walls and ledges which causes danger to the public - so cordons are still in place." |
A cordon on Stow Hill and North Street remains around the church and former nightclub and fire crews are expected to remain on the scene for most of Saturday. | A cordon on Stow Hill and North Street remains around the church and former nightclub and fire crews are expected to remain on the scene for most of Saturday. |
Stagecoach Wales tweeted that the road expected to remain closed for much of Saturday, which would affect some of its services. | |
Welsh Water sent tankers to the scene on Friday to ease the demand on the water supply. | Welsh Water sent tankers to the scene on Friday to ease the demand on the water supply. |
A spokeswoman said: "As the fire is still ongoing, some customers in the Stow Hill area may notice a drop in water pressure or discoloured water. We have sent text messages to those who may be affected." | A spokeswoman said: "As the fire is still ongoing, some customers in the Stow Hill area may notice a drop in water pressure or discoloured water. We have sent text messages to those who may be affected." |