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Nottingham university fire: police investigate cause of 'significant' blaze Nottingham university fire destroys new multimillion-pound chemistry building
(about 1 hour later)
Police are investigating the cause of a "significant" fire that destroyed a new multimillion pound chemistry building at the University of Nottingham. Police are investigating the cause of a "significant" fire that destroyed a new multimillion-pound chemistry building at the University of Nottingham.
Around 60 firefighters were on scene at the height of the blaze, after being called to the campus shortly after 8.30pm on Friday night.Around 60 firefighters were on scene at the height of the blaze, after being called to the campus shortly after 8.30pm on Friday night.
No one was injured and no other buildings were affected as fire crews fought to gain control of the fire while it tore through the timber-framed building, sending burning debris into the sky above.No one was injured and no other buildings were affected as fire crews fought to gain control of the fire while it tore through the timber-framed building, sending burning debris into the sky above.
Meanwhile, a university open day for prospective students and families was going ahead as planned on Saturday, according to campus officials. The state-of-the art building, which had been partly funded by a £12m grant from GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), was still under construction and due to be completed by next year. It was to be "the world's first carbon neutral lab", the university said, and would have housed work aimed at "fundamentally changing how we do chemistry in a more sustainable way".
The state-of-the art building, which had been partly funded by a £12m grant from GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), was still under construction and due to be completed by next year. Dr Paul Greatrix, the university registrar said the building had been "completely destroyed" by the fire. "Thankfully, there have been no casualties as this is a building that was still under construction," he said.
Dr Paul Greatrix, the university registrar, said: "Thankfully, there have been no casualties as this is a building that was still under construction. "Our number one priority is to ensure that the fire does not spread to other buildings in the vicinity and we are grateful to the fire teams on site who have worked extremely hard to contain the blaze.
"Our number one priority is to ensure that the fire does not spread to other buildings in the vicinity and we are grateful to the fire teams on site who have worked extremely hard to contain the blaze." "This is a setback for us but one from which we have no doubt we will recover."
Greatrix said: "It was scary to say the least and the fire service did amazingly well to contain it. Fortunately the wind was blowing the other way, but there was a lot of heat and there were bits of debris in the air landing all over the road.
"There's the investigation by fire service and police, to find the cause, and there's the insurance matters to deal with but it will not deter us and if we cannot do it one way, then we'll do it another."
A university open day for prospective students and families was going ahead as planned on Saturday, according to campus officials, with up to 18,000 people expected to visit.
Nottingham fire and rescue group manager Joanne Wooler-Ward said: "No other buildings have been affected. Fortunately no people were involved in this fire and we've had 12 crews here, that's over 60 firefighters." She paid credit to the scene crews "who pulled out all the stops to prevent this fire spreading" and said the fire was out by 1am on Saturday morning.Nottingham fire and rescue group manager Joanne Wooler-Ward said: "No other buildings have been affected. Fortunately no people were involved in this fire and we've had 12 crews here, that's over 60 firefighters." She paid credit to the scene crews "who pulled out all the stops to prevent this fire spreading" and said the fire was out by 1am on Saturday morning.
"There is a lot of damage to the building and it won't be in use in the near future," she said. "When we arrived, the fire was a significant size and there was a smoke plume spreading towards the campus area so we sent out a message for people to keep doors and windows closed."There is a lot of damage to the building and it won't be in use in the near future," she said. "When we arrived, the fire was a significant size and there was a smoke plume spreading towards the campus area so we sent out a message for people to keep doors and windows closed.
"The firefighters have worked hard to contain that fire and stop it from spreading to any other buildings."The firefighters have worked hard to contain that fire and stop it from spreading to any other buildings.
Wooler-Ward added that reports that the fire started after an explosion were untrue. She said: "Members of the public might have been quite alarmed when they heard a loud bang that some thought was an explosion, but that's something which happens to buildings when they're exposed to extreme heat and pressure. That's a risk we manage and are trained to deal with."Wooler-Ward added that reports that the fire started after an explosion were untrue. She said: "Members of the public might have been quite alarmed when they heard a loud bang that some thought was an explosion, but that's something which happens to buildings when they're exposed to extreme heat and pressure. That's a risk we manage and are trained to deal with."
Nottinghamshire police said that officers were at the scene and had begun investigations, but said it was too early to confirm any details.Nottinghamshire police said that officers were at the scene and had begun investigations, but said it was too early to confirm any details.
The university's website describes the lab as being carbon neutral, built with natural materials, powered by renewable energy and incorporating "state-of-the-art teaching and research laboratories". It is billed to be a "centre for excellence". Greatrix added: "We are incredibly grateful to our staff and students for their fantastic response in dealing with this major incident and would like to express our gratitude to Notts fire service. We have also been extremely touched by the messages and best wishes from our close neighbours out in the community."
The university's website calls the GlaxoSmithKline Carbon Neutral Laboratory for Sustainable Chemistry as a "centre for excellence". It says the lab is built with natural materials, powered by renewable energy and incorporating "state-of-the-art teaching and research laboratories".
A chemistry department building at the University of York was destroyed in a fire two years ago. Reports said that a survey of the building that took place before the blaze had highlighted concerns, including issues with the emergency exits.A chemistry department building at the University of York was destroyed in a fire two years ago. Reports said that a survey of the building that took place before the blaze had highlighted concerns, including issues with the emergency exits.