Firework theory of Blyth pier fire

Nov 4 2008 by Dave Black, The Journal

TWO wind turbines and a lighthouse were left without power when a blaze broke out at a harbour shortly after a spectacular firework display.

About 50 metres of timber walkway above Blyth’s East Pier in Northumberland was damaged by the fire late on Sunday – a couple of hours after crowds had gone home from a pyrotechnic show which brought the curtain down on the town’s annual winter lights festival.

The blaze also damaged cabling along the pier and cut off the electricity supply to two of its nine wind turbines and the lighthouse.

Firefighters went out in a local tug to assess the blaze from the water at about 10.30pm, in an operation which lasted until 4am yesterday and also involved the use of the Tyne and Wear brigade’s fire boat.

Yesterday Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service was investigating the cause of the blaze, but it is thought it was started by a stray firework or the ignition of fireworks left in the area after the Blyth In A New Light event.

The lighthouse was re-powered yesterday using its emergency generator, but the damage to the turbines, cables and the wooden walkway will have to be repaired.

Thousands of people attended the lighting show, which illuminated parts of Blyth town centre and ended with the fireworks display on the quayside.

Port of Blyth chief executive Martin Lawlor said: “The fire was discovered on the wooden walkway which sits on top of the East Pier at about 10.30pm. It affected an area of about 50 metres between two of the nine wind turbines.

“Because the pier is on the other side of the river and not easily accessible on foot, the fire service brought in a fire boat from Tyne and Wear to put it out. We are in the process of assessing the repair costs, but it has not had any significant impact on the operation of the port.

“There was a big fireworks display along that pier earlier on Sunday night, so the chances are the fire was caused by a stray firework. I am surmising that a stray firework has set the walkway alight.

“Blyth In A New Light is a huge and popular event, so it is a little bit disappointing that there has been this incident at the end of it.”

Blyth fire station watch manager Eddie Walker said it was possible boxes of fireworks left on the walkway had somehow ignited in four different areas and started the blaze.

A fire service spokeswoman said: “There appeared to be four separate seats of this fire, which damaged the cables powering the wind turbines and lighthouse. Investigations are ongoing into the cause.”

Police said they were not involved in the investigation.