FIREFIGHTERS today lauded staff at an Ipswich swimming pool for carrying out an orderly evacuation during a fire scare.

Simon Tomlinson

FIREFIGHTERS today lauded staff at an Ipswich swimming pool for carrying out an orderly evacuation during a fire scare.

Families and children taking part in an early morning class at Crown Pools had to leave the complex, some half-clothed, after a light and its electric cable caught fire.

Two crews from the Princes Street fire station, who were alerted by an automatic alarm at around 7.15am today, put out and removed the light which was hanging between two pools.

Station officer Ian Mallet said: “Praise must go to the pool staff who followed their evacuation procedure to the full extent.”

Walter Pereira, who was cleaning the reception area at the time, said no-one was in the pool when the incident happened.

He added: “Some people got upset to begin with but we told them the fire was no big deal. No-one was in danger and most people were calm.”

Crown Pools manager Mike Houchell said: “We are pleased the evacuation went smoothly. We are sorry for any inconvenience caused but we have to put the safety of the general public first.”