Arson probe after blaze wrecks gym
STEPHEN PULLINGER A successful Yarmouth gym owner watched in despair today as fire investigators picked through the shell of his building on the town's Harfrey's Industrial Estate.
STEPHEN PULLINGER
A successful Yarmouth gym owner watched in despair today as fire investigators picked through the shell of his building on the town's Harfrey's Industrial Estate.
Adie Gray, 35, was too upset to say much about the blaze which caused thousands of pounds of damage to his Harfrey's Leisure Complex in Bessemer Way.
Station officer David Kennedy, leading the fire investigation, confirmed that the right-hand side of the building had been gutted, with nothing salvageable among the hi-tech gym machines and equipment.
He said they would be carrying out a thorough fire investigation to gauge whether it was an arson attack or an accident.
Six fire engines from Yarmouth, Gorleston and Lowestoft had been called to fight the blaze that broke out at about 4am.
Most Read
- 1 'God's waiting room' - Norfolk town is country's pensioner hotspot
- 2 Former vicarage set in one acre is up for sale - and it needs some TLC
- 3 Thetford homes left with 'significant' damage following blaze
- 4 Star-studded line-up announced for free Norfolk festival
- 5 RAF flypast to pass through Norfolk's skies
- 6 World record? 24 ducklings spotted waddling through Norfolk village
- 7 Norfolk's 100 Jubilee street parties revealed
- 8 George Ezra to host album launch show in Norwich
- 9 Interactive and immersive dinosaur attraction opening in Norfolk this month
- 10 'Long-awaited in the area' - New Norfolk deli celebrates local produce
Crews wearing breathing apparatus were supported by a hydraulic platform employed to douse the fierce flames.
By 5.30am firefighters had put out the blaze and were damping down, their swift work averting serious damage to a neighbouring unit getting ready to open as Atlantis Aquatics, a tropical fish store.
Gym users found that the Bessemer Way premises had been cordoned off by police.
Mr Gray, who has invested heavily in the business in recent years, could not say when they would be ready to re-open.
The EDP revealed in April that his ultimate ambition was to open a £10.5m sports centre with hi-tech gym and swimming pool on nearby Beacon Park, in Gorleston. He had had strong interest from potential investors and hoped to start work later this year.
