Fire rips through Reigate rugby club pavilion

Fire has destroyed the roof of a Reigate rugby club.

The blaze at the Old Reigatian RFC on Geoffrey Knight Fields in Park Lane started in the early hours of Saturday (June 28).

Nine fire engines attended the scene after reports of flames and smoke coming from the building.

David McGuigan, facilities manager for the clubhouse, said : “We believe the fire started at about 3am and we believe it’s an arson because that’s what the fire crew have told us.

“They believe it’s an arson – that’s their initial assessment.”

Mr McGuigan said a resident in West Street called the fire brigade at about 4am.

“By that stage it was quite clearly visible from West Street. The fire brigade sent nine engines from every area they could pull them from and they’re still here.”

David D’Souza, who lives just across the playing fields from the pavilion, said he and his wife Kerry heard a noise at about 6.30am.

“I looked out of the window at about 7am to see smoke billowing from the pavilion,” he said.

Mr D’Souza, 35, then went to have a look what was happening with his four-year-old daughter Olwen.

“There were nine fire engines and a police car and the playing field was sealed off with police tape,” he said.

“The firefighters were using an aerial ladder onto the roof and most of the right hand side of the building had been destroyed.”

Mr D’Souza said a neighbour told him he heard a noise at about 2am or 3am but could not work out where it was coming from.

“It may have been going for some time and we probably heard the emergency services responding to it,” said Mr D’Souza.

The rugby club fire follows a suspicious fire which destroyed the pavilion of Churchfields Bowls Club in Reigate on Wednesday June 25.

Another suspicious fire destroyed the new clubhouse at Horley Lawn Tennis Club in Vicarage Lane on Sunday June 22.

The following night a fire damaged a car park roof and destroyed several hair basins next to a salon in Horley. The blaze is being treated as a suspected arson.

Mr D’Souza said: “It looks like a worrying spate of arson but I only hope this was an accident.

“It’s not the sort of thing that really happens here. It must be one of the sleepiest places in the UK.”

A notice on the Old Reigatian RFC website said: “There has been a fire at the clubhouse. The whole area is being treated as a crime scene; can we ask all members to stay AWAY until the Police and Fire service have done their job.”

Article source: http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/sport/11302439.Tributes_pour_in_for__lsquo_Mr_York_Rugby_rsquo__Pete_Warters/?ref=rss

Fire rips through Reigate rugby club pavilion