FIREFIGHTERS last night tackled a blaze at a derelict historic building in Grimsby.
Flames – some as high as 20 feet according to eyewitnesses – ripped through the former Grimsby Art College in Eleanor Street, causing part of the roof to cave in.
Humberside Fire And Rescue were called to the incident at around 7.30pm after being alerted by a resident of the Salvation Army hostel next door.
Four fire engines attended the scene along with police officers. Fire crews initially attempted to tackle the blaze from the Eleanor Street side of the building but later moved into the car park at the rear, off Heneage Road.
The flames were brought under control using two hose reels but smoke continued to billow from the building.
A small crowd of people gathered in the car park to watch the drama unfold but they were later ushered onto the other side of the road by firefighters who taped off the car park.
The fire has led to renewed calls for something to be done with the derelict building, which has attracted several incidents of vandalism in recent years.
Opened in 1895 as Wintringham School, the building later became Grimsby Art College before closing in the mid-1990s with plans to convert it into flats.
The Salvation Army hostel resident who rang 999 told the Grimsby Telegraph: "I was in my front room watching the telly when I saw the smoke.
"Something needs to be done with the building. There's always kids in there running on the roof. I know it's a listed building but they want it bulldozing and making safe. It's a deathtrap."
Another eyewitness, who was driving past when he saw the flames, said: "I saw the firefighters struggling at the front of the building so I told them to come round the back and use the car park to get at it.
"When I came round the flames were about 20ft high through the roof. I used to go to this school but that was a long time ago. I thought they were supposed to be renovating it."
