News Blaze savages Victorian site
A unique Victorian property on the outskirts Goole was left ravaged by flames last week after a four-hour fire tore through the property, severely damaging the ground and first floors and leaving the building 'burnt from floor to roof'.
Three fire engines, two crews from Goole and one from Howden, rushed to New Potter Grange shortly before 6pm last Thursday after receiving reports of a severe house fire.
The farm house was described as being 'well alight' when the first crews from Goole arrived at the scene, and immediate assistance was requested to supplement water supplies, leading to a call out at Howden Fire Station.
Fire-fighters wore breathing apparatus and also used two main jets and a thermal imaging camera as they battled to douse the flames that left the ground and first floors of the house severely damaged.
On Thursday, as fire fighters battled to douse the flames, Glenn Ramsden from the Humberside Fire and Rescue Service said: "Crews have been faced with a severe fire. Those working inside the home wearing breathing apparatus will be subjected to extreme temperatures and zero visibility."
New Potter Grange was previously owned by Claudio Coppola, but has been unoccupied since it was bought by Sterling Capitol, developers of the Capital park site off Junction 36 of the M62.
Gary Cartmell, consultant for Sterling Capitol, told the Goole Times last week: "It is not yet known how this fire was started; it will take longer to sort out. Whether it was started maliciously or by children, I don't know.
"Only two weeks ago, we put up sturdy steel shuttering on all windows and doors, but the shuttering was removed by the fire brigade to deal with the fire.
"I am very concerned that people don't have access now, because I am worried about the safety of the building. We don't want people on the site and vandalising it, because it creates an eyesore and safety issue."
Mr Cartmell went on to say, shortly after visiting New Potter Grange following the fire, that the building was "burnt from floor to roof', and the floorboards near a fire exit had completely burned away.
"My main concern is to assess public safety," added Mr Cartmell.
"I am disappointed that the anti-vandalism measures that we have put in place have been breached."
Built in 1881, New Potter Grange retained most of its original features over the years, with a pitch-pine return staircase and original Italian tiled mosaic floor in the hall.
Kester Dean, Goole Town councillor and chairman of the Friends of Oakhill group, spoke out this week at his dismay at the level of damage that has been caused to the interior of New Potter Grange.
He said: "No one wants things to happen at New Potter Grange that drag the area down. These type of problems reduce the potential for investment.
"The building was constructed in 1881, and most of its features survived intact over the years. We should be using assets like New Potter Grange to raise the status of the area, not allowing such things to be damaged." (28-12-43 GT)
Published on 28th December 2007 in News.
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