£300,000 arson attack

Published on 7th June 2007 in News

Firefighters work to tackle the blaze.

Thousands of bales of wood shavings went up in flames in an arson attack at Holme on Spalding Moor last week, causing around £300,000 worth of damage.

Between 5pm and 6.45pm on Wednesday, shortly after the wood yard on High Street closed, fire broke out in the shed where the shavings are stored.

Fire crews from Howden, Market Weighton and Pocklington went to Arnold Laver timber merchants' premises shortly before 7pm and found 32,000 bales of wood shavings on fire and flames licking through the roof of the building.

The wood shavings, a gravity roller and the shed were all destroyed.

At its height the fire was tackled by firefighters wearing breathing apparatus and using four main water jets.

A water relay was used to help stop the blaze spreading to nearby buildings and equipment and a farmer provided an excavator to break up the stacks and create a fire break.

Early investigations have suggested that the fire was started deliberately.

Glenn Ramsden, spokesperson from Humberside Fire and Rescue Service, said: "In the early stages of the fire there was difficulty setting up an established water supply for operations but once this had been established, the fire-fighting progressed well."

"Watch manager John Speak and his crews did an exceptional job, considering the amount of baled wood shavings that were at the site."

Mr Ramsden also condemned those responsible for the fire.

"Did we need to be there?" he asked.

"The answer to that question is probably no, as once again this has been started deliberately – arson puts lives at risk and is draining the resources of the fire and rescue service."

Police are appealing for witnesses to the fire, and are asking people to think back to whether anyone they knew came home smelling of smoke.

Anyone with information is asked to call Humberside Police on 0845 6060 222 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.