Two fires which occurred within days of each other at derelict premises in Gateshead are being treated as suspected arson.
Officers from Northumbria Police attended the scene of a blaze on Carlisle Street in Felling at the site of the former Malting House pub on Wednesday (June 8). Thankfully, nobody was found to have been injured in the incident.
An investigation into the blaze was subsequently launched by officers and the incident is now being treated as a case of suspected arson.
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This incident followed another fire in Felling that this week which took place derelict building on Coldwell Street in the early hours of Monday morning (6th June). Thankfully, nobody was injured in this incident either.
At this stage, it is not known whether the incidents are connected but both are thought to have been started deliberately. A spokesperson from Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service did confirm that they will be assisting Northumbria Police with their enquiries.
Station Manager for Gateshead Community Fire Station, Martin Farrow said: “We can confirm we attended fires at a commercial property on Coldwell Street and a derelict building on Carlisle Street both in Felling earlier this week.
“We do believe both of these fires were started deliberately but thankfully nobody was reportedly injured in either of the incidents and both fires were safely extinguished thanks to the fast response of our crews.
“The fires have taken place on two different evenings but we will be supporting Northumbria Police with their enquiries into both incidents and they will be investigating whether there is any connection.
"We received a call about a fire at a derelict building on Coldwell Street in the early hours of Monday morning (6th June) with the initial call made at about 1am. Appliances from Gateshead Community Fire Stations were on the scene in just six minutes to extinguish the fire before they left at 1.34am.
"We then received a call about a fire at a derelict building on Carlisle Street on Wednesday evening (8th June) at about 9.08pm. Appliances from Gateshead and Hebburn Community Fire Stations were on the scene in just four minutes to bring the blaze under control and left at 9.39pm.
Mr Farrow also added a plea for the public to refrain from engaging in behaviour of this sort in the future, saying: "Not only is deliberate fire-setting illegal but it is incredibly dangerous for residents and for those responsible.
"We would urge people to think twice about the consequences of this type of behaviour.
“We will continue to carry out engagement activity with the local community and with schools in the area but anyone with information about these particular incidents are encouraged to report it online through the police website, or you can call the independent charity FireStoppers anonymously on 0800 169 5558.”
A Northumbria Police spokesperson said of the Coldwell Street fire: “Shortly after 1am on Monday (June 6) we received a report of a fire at a premises on Coldwell Street, Felling.
“Thankfully nobody was injured. Enquiries are ongoing into the circumstances surrounding the fire and anyone with information is asked to contact us via the ‘Tell Us Something’ page of our website or by calling 101 quoting log NP-20220606-0034.”
Addressing the blaze which took place on Carlisle Street, they added: “At about 9.30pm on Wednesday (June 8) we were alerted by the fire service to a blaze at a derelict premises on Carlisle Street, Felling.
“Nobody was injured. Officers are treating the cause of the fire as suspected arson."
"Anyone with information is asked to contact police via the ‘Tell Us Something’ page of our website or by calling 101 quoting log NP-20220608-1100.”
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