This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/wales/south_west/8417484.stm
The article has changed 16 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Emergency meeting over lido fire | Emergency meeting over lido fire |
(about 1 hour later) | |
An emergency council meeting has been called after a blaze at a leisure complex which was tackled by more than 100 firefighters. | |
The fire at the Afan Lido in Port Talbot led to homes nearby being evacuated and roads closed. | |
Mid and West Wales Fire Service spent the night tackling the fire, which began on Wednesday evening. Crews remain at the scene, dampening down. | |
The extent of the damage remains unclear. No-one was injured. | |
Neath Port Talbot council will hold an emergency meeting on Thursday to discuss the fire, which is not being treated as suspicious. | |
We whistled at him and said, 'there's a fire, quick, run!' Justine Jones, lifeguard, to the sole swimmer as the fire broke out | |
It has already promised to repair or replace the building on the same site. | |
Meanwhile, Tywyn Primary School in adjacent Channel View is to close on Thursday following the fire but is expected to re-open on Friday. | Meanwhile, Tywyn Primary School in adjacent Channel View is to close on Thursday following the fire but is expected to re-open on Friday. |
Fire crews were unable to enter the the leisure centre in the Sandfields estate once the flames broke through the roof. | Fire crews were unable to enter the the leisure centre in the Sandfields estate once the flames broke through the roof. |
At the height of the blaze, 17 fire vehicles were deployed, including three aerial appliances. | |
Fire crews have remained at the scene overnight. | Fire crews have remained at the scene overnight. |
Lido lifeguard Justine Jones, 19, was one of four staff on duty at the poolside and was the person who raised the alarm. | Lido lifeguard Justine Jones, 19, was one of four staff on duty at the poolside and was the person who raised the alarm. |
She said she saw fire break out from underneath a fake rock feature. | She said she saw fire break out from underneath a fake rock feature. |
More than 100 firefighters tackled the blaze | |
She told the BBC News website: "I spotted the fire in the poolside. There is a feature temple and fake rocks and the smoke was coming from inside the rocks. | |
"I heard a 'pop' and there was smoke and flames everywhere. It was coming from the bottom by the slides." | "I heard a 'pop' and there was smoke and flames everywhere. It was coming from the bottom by the slides." |
Ms Jones, who has worked at the lido for two-and-a-half years, said there was only one person swimming at the time but it took them a moment to attract his attention. | Ms Jones, who has worked at the lido for two-and-a-half years, said there was only one person swimming at the time but it took them a moment to attract his attention. |
"We whistled at him and said, 'there's a fire, quick, run!'" | "We whistled at him and said, 'there's a fire, quick, run!'" |
They checked the changing area before leaving. She added: "All the staff got their heads together and acted fast." | They checked the changing area before leaving. She added: "All the staff got their heads together and acted fast." |
Ms Jones said the building had fortunately been very quiet at the time the fire started. | Ms Jones said the building had fortunately been very quiet at the time the fire started. |
Her car keys and personal belongings are still inside the building, and she had to leave her car parked outside. | Her car keys and personal belongings are still inside the building, and she had to leave her car parked outside. |
The lido opened 53 years ago | |
The fire prompted a torrent of responses by e-mail from people who witnessed it. | The fire prompted a torrent of responses by e-mail from people who witnessed it. |
Lisa, of Baglan, called it "a huge loss for Port Talbot. I hope the damage isn't as bad as I'm hearing." | |
Gerallt, of Rhos, said: "The smoke and light from the Aquadome can be seen from up here (about 15-20 miles away). The smell is being carried across the air towards us. Hope everyone down there is safe." | Gerallt, of Rhos, said: "The smoke and light from the Aquadome can be seen from up here (about 15-20 miles away). The smell is being carried across the air towards us. Hope everyone down there is safe." |
Alun Hemington-Gorse, of Porthcawl, said: "Really sad, a great resource in a deprived area- we take our daughter swimming there every week. It will be missed." | Alun Hemington-Gorse, of Porthcawl, said: "Really sad, a great resource in a deprived area- we take our daughter swimming there every week. It will be missed." |