Two Boys Arrested in Connection with Major Nottingham Fire
A fire at the Grade II listed Escobar building in Nottingham city center resulted in the arrest of a 12-year-old and a 14-year-old on suspicion of arson.
Two boys, aged 12 and 14, have been arrested on suspicion of arson following a significant fire that threatened the structural integrity of the Grade II listed Escobar building in Nottingham city center. The blaze, which occurred shortly before 11:00 PM BST on Monday, required the response of approximately 60 firefighters and 12 fire crews at its peak.
Emergency services closed several streets in the vicinity, including Upper Parliament Street, Goldsmith Street, and Market Street, as firefighters battled the flames. Nottinghamshire Police and Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service have launched a joint investigation into the cause of the fire. The two arrested boys remain in custody.
No serious injuries were reported as a result of the incident. However, the fire caused extensive damage to the Escobar building, which houses businesses and residential flats. Station Manager Richard Booth of Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service stated that the building was not safe to enter, with significant internal damage to the roof structure posing a risk of internal collapse.
As of Tuesday morning, the emergency response had been scaled down, with about four fire engines and two police vehicles remaining at the scene. Firefighters continued to use an aerial ladder platform to monitor the building for hotspots and assess its structural stability. Debris from the fire was scattered across Market Street.
Concerns were raised about the impact on residents and businesses. Incident commander Richard Leighton indicated that approximately a dozen residents and four businesses were affected, and disruption was expected to continue throughout the day as authorities worked to ensure the building's safety.
Local businesses were also impacted. Erlint Tsalai, owner of The Souvlaki, located near the affected building, reported that his restaurant's front door had to be damaged by firefighters to inspect the premises. He expressed concern over the potential loss of business and the cost of repairs.
Witnesses described seeing flames several meters above the building and a significant amount of smoke. Road closures and the disruption to tram and bus services, including the temporary deactivation of overhead power lines by Nottingham Express Transit, affected the city center.
Nottinghamshire Police have urged anyone with information or footage related to the fire to come forward. The investigation into the incident is ongoing.