Fire breaks out at disused building in Bath Lane

 

By Rosie Vacciana-Browne

On Monday evening a fire broke out at an abandoned building in Bath Lane opposite student accommodation, Merlin Heights.

At 18.45 emergency services were called to report the fire, four fire engines came to the site and tackled the blaze accompanied by the police and ambulance crew.

Student accommodation, Merlin Heights, overlooks the building with only a side road separating the two.

One student, who lives in the accommodation and witnessed the aftermath, said: “It broke out at around 19.00, I saw a police car, ambulance, fire engines. There were people in the car park (opposite)and they (firefighters) banged the door open to get in, I felt scared.”

Whilst the fire was opposite Merlin Heights student accommodation, they have confirmed that their building was in no way affected.

A spokesperson from the police said: “At 18.57 we were called by the fire service to report a fire on Bath Lane that we then attended. The cause of the fire will be determined by the fire service and police will begin an investigation if it is believed that a crime has been committed.”

There had been fears that homeless people who frequent the building may have been inside at the time of the fire, however the fire service has since announced that no one was inside the building at the time of the fire.

Bath Lane was closed during the incident and firetrucks stayed at the scene until later that evening. The road is now reopened.

The fire service was contacted for comment but are yet to reply and no cause of the fire has been made public at the time of this report.