Southport Forums - Pleasureland Fire-River Caves Destroyed

Pleasureland Fire-River Caves Destroyed
Tue 21st Apr 2009, 08:32 PM
Reported by: onthespot

Pleasureland Fire-River Caves

News as it happens!

Fire-fighters were called to Pleasureland Southport at 8:00pm tonight (Tuesday 21st April 2009) following reports of a fire.

Fire-fighters heading to the scene

They arrived on scene within minutes to find the River Caves on fire.

Fire-fighters tackle the blaze

Two fire-fighters who were first on scene attempted to contain the fire but it was too big and spread to the adjoining building.

They were called off the main fire to hose down a PVC inflatable about 50 yards away.

Fire-fighters head to the PVC inflatable

Two more appliances arrived on scene a short time later and fire-fighters from these appliances continued to put out the main fire.

A fire was also started at a different location inside Pleasureland at the same time. This was put out by Pleasureland staff.

Pleasureland staff pour water over A-board fire

Three boys on bikes were seen leaving the River Caves building just after the fires started.

Fire-fighters are still on scene.

UPDATE WEDNESDAY 22nd APRIL 2009

Ten fire appliances attended the scene last night. Two appliances are on scene this morning and it will be dinner time today before the fire is completely out. Contractors with a JCB are digging out the wooden structure beneath the ground which is still alight.

Fire-fighters still on scene

Burnt remains

Twisted metal

Wooden structure still on fire below the ground

UPDATE WEDNESDAY 22nd

Police in Southport have arrested a 16-year-old boy in connection with the fire. He has been released on police bail pending further enquiries.

Who is in court

Onthespot - your online reporter

Do you have a story to tell? Please text or phone 07930717137 or email press@southport.gb.com

YOUR COMMENTS ON THIS ARTICLE

(74 comments)

james9328643 says:	Tue 21st Apr 2009, 08:40 PM

can see this from my house and 3 boys left on bikes, well let me guess, more yobbos, what has southport come to

Christopher! says:	Tue 21st Apr 2009, 08:41 PM

Yes, saw this just before. Shame

coaster says:	Tue 21st Apr 2009, 08:42 PM

Personally, i saw the the three lads leaving the scene on bikes and it was very much alight by then, i think they were just seeing what was happening.

AnnyCurdy says:	Tue 21st Apr 2009, 08:43 PM

I am sure that Geoffrey Thompson must be turning in his grave.

nevermind says:	Tue 21st Apr 2009, 08:45 PM

insurance job!

Barrie says:	Tue 21st Apr 2009, 09:02 PM

You have no proof of that statement despite what you might think, nevermind,

martynlfc says:	Tue 21st Apr 2009, 09:02 PM

Yikes looks like a bad one!

That end is empty at the moment as there is a quad bike track under construction and the River Caves was damaged beyond repair anyway.

LibbyFairhurst says:	Tue 21st Apr 2009, 09:23 PM

I just came out of the gym with my sister, and saw alot of smoke, so we drove round and where like OH MY GOD! It was burning down so easily, and the statemant about boys-there are camera's everywhere around Southport, so if there where boys setting it on fire they will be caught. And come on people, it is Southport, the chance of boys setting stuff on fire is very high.

Will it be on northwest tonight?

Im 14 and putting this, aren't i sad!

xx

DCI Gene Hunt says:	Tue 21st Apr 2009, 09:28 PM

This is going to sound odd but at 3.25 this afternoon a friend of mine was talking about when she was a kid and went to Pleasureland a lot, I mentioned the River Caves and look what's happened....

Also mentioned places like Whistlers and Martin's newsagents (on the corner where Blacks is)
Anyone got any pics of them??

Barrie says:	Tue 21st Apr 2009, 09:32 PM

I understand that there are now 12 pumps requested for this fire plus an Aerial Ladder Platform plus two Hoselayers which will make this one of the largest structure fires that the town has seen!!!!

Barrie says:	Tue 21st Apr 2009, 09:36 PM

Sorry......there is another major fire at Oldham and I understand that some information on the fire website has become mixed up......maybe not quite as large My apologies!
Southports is 8 pumps

steve says:	Tue 21st Apr 2009, 09:50 PM

I trust no one was injured and hope that the firefighters can do a safe job tonight, never without risk.

There are now 2,064 people online right now looking at SGB, proving that this is by far the number one news media for Southport. This breaks the previous record re: Gerrards arrest last December by nearly 50%. The server seems to be holding up ok thankfully.

archer500 says:	Tue 21st Apr 2009, 09:53 PM

if it was 3 yobbos and they are caught then publish their piccies and let the towns folk sort them out

Preacherman says:	Tue 21st Apr 2009, 09:53 PM

I doubt there's anything more sinister this than a simple case of arson. If the boys on bikes are suspects I hope that those who saw them can give the police more substantial descriptions and that their movements can be tracked on some of the many CCTV cameras around the town. Irrespective of the fact that I think the current fair is pretty lame, I think this is a damn shame for the owner.

Hope those responsible are caught.

onthespot says:	Tue 21st Apr 2009, 09:54 PM

At 9:50pm tonight (Tuesday 21st April 2009) there was 9 fire engines on scene tackling the blaze.

martynlfc says:	Tue 21st Apr 2009, 10:04 PM

I think it's pretty obvious it was deliberate, they chose to set fire to the derelict, beyond repair, River Caves building when there were rides a stones throw away, notably Waltzer and Log Flume.

joelc88 says:	Tue 21st Apr 2009, 10:04 PM

just been past still looks bad

LibbyFairhurst says:	Tue 21st Apr 2009, 10:10 PM

is it still on fire?

adz-lfc says:	Tue 21st Apr 2009, 10:13 PM

Is this the second time since its been there that its "caught fire"?

martynlfc says:	Tue 21st Apr 2009, 10:14 PM

^ Think it's still on fire yeah, hope they get it under control soon.

No the only other ride that caught fire was after the old park closed, think it was the old Log Flume in 2006.

BigBiegeBeast says:	Tue 21st Apr 2009, 10:19 PM

I left about 10 minutes ago and the and I over heard them sayin it had gone from 'offensive mode' to 'transitional mode'. Guess that means their getting it under control. I absolutly reek of smoke!

Real shame that, I have alot of funny memories from that ride.

It was soo bad it was good.

LadyMotorbiker says:	Tue 21st Apr 2009, 10:20 PM

went being nosey.. can stilll see flames coming out of the roof.

going to be a big mess to clear up..

F2.8 says:	Tue 21st Apr 2009, 10:26 PM

I was passing at 7.55pm and saw the smoke pouring out of the trees in the distance we called the fire brigade who had actually just recieved a call about it ,then we called OTS bet he was there before the fire brigade !

Top reporting .

this will be in the Vis on Friday when its burnt to the floor and prob getting rebuilt ! OTS reports it as it happens !

adz-lfc says:	Tue 21st Apr 2009, 10:28 PM

He very often does get to the scene of an accident before the emergancy services, I dont know how :S

pedoja says:	Tue 21st Apr 2009, 10:35 PM

F2.8 has just answered that question!

PaulG says:	Tue 21st Apr 2009, 10:43 PM

I know its a "Shame" but a bigger shame is that our useless Council where not recording their new PR video for Southport at the time !

Where The Creosotes, actions ever explained with the dimise of the Fair, and destruction of the Cyclone ?

And will the new PR video show all the empty shops ? , in their Flagship "Chapel St" ? That they are actively assisting closing by increasing P&D charges ?

It is a good job the Zoo is closed, as the Animals may have been hurt (Again). Lets hope noone gets hurt.

Possibly, the contents of the Zoo are in Bootle, running OUR town ? Then again NO ! they would have done a better JOB !

Remember, Its elections soon (I Hope !) vote for Change ! GET THEM OUT !!!

Barrie says:	Tue 21st Apr 2009, 10:47 PM

There are two 'fire fighting modes' Defensive and Offensive. Transisional Mode is what the name suggests 'between the other two' Offensive describes the action on attempting to actually extinguish the fire....Defensive is attempting to stop the fire spreading to unaffected properties and also rescuing anyone who may be trapped Thats a very basic explanation of what you heard beast !
It does seem like it is under control now.......unlike the Oldham fire....its an old cotton mill and the score is 25 fire engines at the moment!

evertonfc says:	Tue 21st Apr 2009, 10:48 PM

the whole fair is a dump,hope it all burns down

PaulG says:	Tue 21st Apr 2009, 10:51 PM

It was not prior to the decine of it ! And the blatent un-opposed destruction of the Cyclone

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