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Bingo club escapes fire
It’s bingo as usual for the Crown Bingo in Hudson Street, Tyne Dock, South Shields, despite the building having a lucky escape after fire ripped through the neighbouring buildings, destroying two of them.
One nearby resident said; “I was sitting in the garden when I saw lots of smoke coming from what I thought was the Metro station. I came running out with my phone, but as I did so, I could hear the fire engines. Then I saw the bingo hall on fire. Two fire engines turned up first, then another one turned up 20 minutes later. It’s such a shame what’s happened, as the people who own it are lovely.”
Although investigations have not been concluded it is believed that gas burners being used by workmen for weatherproofing work on the roof caused the fire. After the alarm was raised police were called and set up a cordon around the building. The road between Boldon Lane and Hudson Street were closed whilst four crews tackled the blaze, as there were concerns that there were canisters close by which could explode. The firemen had to chip away some of the roof so they could get water into the building, and spent nearly an hour fighting the fire.
Derek Chadkirk, the crew manager said; “There were two outbuildings adjoining the Internet bingo bonus hall where both of the roofs were on fire. Workmen had been doing some weatherproofing on the roof with gas burners and somehow it caught alight.”
During the blaze some damage was caused to the main building whilst the outbuildings were unfortunately destroyed. Luckily there were only a few people in the building when the fire broke out and no-one was injured, everyone having evacuated the building before the fire brigade arrived.
Peter Sutton, the Neighbourhood Inspector said; “Road closures were put in place as there were concerns they may have been inflammable canisters in a nearby building. At no point was the public in any danger.”
Tom Hearn has owned the building since 1961, and confirmed that the bingo club was operating as usual, and in fact there had been a session just after the fire was put out. He commented; “Since I have owned the building, there is never a time, that I can remember, we have ever closed. Not for anything. It is also the first major incident we have had here. The buildings have been devastated, but the bingo hall is fine. I have had a number of calls from people wondering whether we are open, and yes, we are open as usual.”
The 150 year old building was previously a British Rail school, built to provide education for the children of dock workers and British Rail staff who lived in some nearby cottages. It was closed for a short period and then re-opened as a cinema, before being used as a dance hall. The building has been used a bingo club since 1961, and hopefully will continue for a long time yet.
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