Students work as roof burns

Apr 5 2008 by Paul Loraine, The Journal

A BLAZE ripped through the roof of an adult education centre yesterday. More than 40 firefighters were called to the Brinkburn Centre – the old Byker Library – in Commercial Road, in Newcastle’s East End.

Fire crews received a call shortly before 11.45am and a special incident unit was set up at the scene because of the severity of the blaze.

Smoke billowed from the council building into the surrounding streets.

The old library is now used as an adult learning centre and 31-year-old mother of one Zoe Robinson, of Saltwell, Gateshead, was in a creative writing class when the fire began.

She said the class were unaware of the scale of the fire until they left the building. “We could smell something, but we didn’t think anything of it,” she said.

“We didn’t think we were in danger. Then one of the men in the class started getting little black bits dropping off the roof onto his desk.

“The smell of smoke was getting stronger and eventually someone came and told us to evacuate the building. When we got outside we saw smoke coming from the roof and all of a sudden it went up in flames.

“It was amazing how quickly it spread. It was a very lucky escape.”

The building is also the base of Newcastle Libraries home delivery service, but there were fewer than 50 people in the centre.

Much of the internal damage was relatively minor, with smoke attacking paintwork.

The building was cordoned off amid fears about the stability of the roof. A structural engineer confirmed work would be required to make the building safe.

A spokesman for Newcastle City Council said: “A fire broke out at the Brinkburn Centre, Byker, earlier today. At the height of the fire, which started in the building’s roof, 11 fire appliances were on the scene. There were 12 staff in the building, plus a number of adults on a course.

“Everybody was evacuated safely and the fire was brought under control within half an hour.

“The roof is badly damaged and there is smoke damage to parts of the building. However, books and computers stored may not be badly damaged.

“The home delivery service will have to be suspended for a short while, but staff will work hard to resume normal service as soon as possible.”

Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service group manager Paul Anderson said: “When the crews arrived a fire had developed on the roof. It looks like a lot of the roof will have to be replaced.

“The crews did brilliantly to contain it within half an hour.”

The Brinkburn Centre manager Janice Hall said: “The Fire Brigade arrived on the scene very quickly and did a fantastic job.”