Firefighters have been working since the early hours of this morning to bring a blaze under control which is believed to have been caused by arson.
Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service (TWFRS) received a report that a stack of tires, rubbish and other materials that had caught fire on a farm in High Spen, Rowlands Gill at 3.34am. Crews were on the scene within minutes and remain in the area as the work to extinguish the blaze.
Four appliances from TWFRS and one from Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service attended the scene and people in the surrounding properties have been asked to keep doors and windows closed.
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Northumbria Police have now launched an investigation into the incident on Rogues Lane and are treating the fire as arson.
A Northumbria Police spokesperson said: "Shortly before 8am today, we received a report of a fire on Rogues Lane, in High Spen, Gateshead. It was reported that a large amount of tyres and a shed were ablaze.
"Emergency services are in attendance and are putting the fire out.
"Officers investigating the incident are treating it as arson. Witnesses should contact police using the ‘Tell us Something’ page of our website or by calling 101, quoting NP-20230427-0171."
A Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service Spokesperson said "We can confirm we are currently in attendance of a fire on a farm in High Spen, Rowlands Gill.
"Our fire control received a call at 3:34am this morning about a stack of tires, rubbish and other materials that had caught fire.
"Four appliances from across the service area and one from Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service attended the scene, the first being there in a matter of minutes.
"No one is believed to be injured but our firefighters remain at the scene to ensure the fire is fully extinguished.
"We are working with Northumbria Police to establish the circumstances around the incident but at this time police are treating the incident as arson"
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