Update: Crews tackle Colchester swimming pool fire in former military gym
The old MOD gym in Circular Road South, Colchester which has suffered a major fire - Credit: Andrew Partridge
Firefighters have tackled a major blaze at a derelict swimming pool.
Crews were called just before 2.30am to a premises in Circular Road South, Colchester.
The fire was said to be ‘well alight’ with seven appliances sent to the blaze.
Crews had the fire in the building - which measures 95 metres by 10 metres - surrounded by 3.25am as they tackled the blaze on multiple fronts using one aerial ladder platform, two ground monitors, one main jet and one hose reel jet.
At just before 4.05am the incident commander reported the building had suffered partial collapse.
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The fire was extinguished by 7.10am.
Station officer Paul Baker said: “On arrival crews were faced with a well developed fire which had engulfed the entire building. Crews quickly got to work tackling the fire in multiple fronts and protecting the nearby medical centre.
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“We used a ladder platform monitor to put water on the fire from above as well as hose reels jets to tackle the fire and protect the medical centre.
“Crews did an excellent job in beating the fire back as quickly as they did. We had the fire well under control in under two hours. Crews remain at the scene this morning turning over and damping down.”
The cause of the fire has been recorded as undetermined.
