Worksop: Fire chiefs unable to confirm whether pub blaze was arson

Crews were called out at around 8.15pm on Friday 8th May to Disraeli’s on Dock Road.

The fire comes just one week after the Guardian reported that arson attacks were reportedly in decline in the town.

When asked if the blaze was deliberate, a fire service officer said: “I cannot say at the minute.”

It is understood that the fire on Friday occurred near an outer building next to the pub and involved CO2 beer gas cylinders, a mattress and rubbish.

People were urged to avoid the area until the flames were put out and a cordon was put in place.

Firefighters from Worksop and Retford were at the scene for around 30 minutes and used hose reels to put the flames out.

Around 15 fire officers attended and left later that evening.

New figures from Notts Fire had revealed that deliberate fires in the past year had fallen.

Statistics showed that between April 2013 and April 2014, there were 227 deliberate blazes in the Worksop area - 14 per cent less than in the previous 12 months when there were 266.

Of the 227 arsons, 53 involved property with insurable value - such as a house or vehicle - while the other 174 involved property with no insurable value such as grass, scrap or rubbish.

The figures were released as part of Arson Awareness Week.

“Our safety message would be for people not to store rubbish close to buildings,” a spokesman added.

“The pub is currently closed and the owner was able to let us have the keys to get inside the building.”

No one was injured in the blaze.