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TWENTY FIRE crews in Tyne and Wear tackled a major blaze in a four-storey building under construction, which spread to severely damage surrounding buildings and equipment.
The building – a former Warner Brothers cinema in Newbridge Street, Newcastle – was being developed into a first-floor cafeteria and three floors of student accom-modation for Northumbria University.
No one was hurt in the blaze, which broke out at around 9.30pm on 9 April, but the fire spread to three surrounding single-storey buildings. One of these buildings was completely destroyed and the remaining two sustained fire damage to the roof and contents. In addition, seven cars and a crane were destroyed, and embers from the fire also caused damage to two domestic flat roofs and park equipment at a nearby school.
Ten fire engines and a number of special appliances attended, including aerial ladder and urban search and rescue units. Fire crews held jets onto a nearby school and church to limit the damage caused by burning embers and to prevent further fire spread.
The cause of the fire is being investigated amid unconfirmed reports that the building where the fire started was of timber-framed construction.
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