By Kacee Fennelly and Helen Flannery
MORE than 70 firefighters have been at the scene of a major fire in Newcastle.
Evacuations took place at near-by buildings in the East End of Newcastle, Byker. Leighton Street and Byker Bank between Northumberland Terrace and Ouseburn Road were closed as a result of the smoke bellowing from the scrapyard.
The flames came from Shepherd’s Scrap Yard, on Albion Road, which triggered explosions and clouds of smoke to fill the area. Emergency services were called to the scene at approximately 12.20PM and the incident was declared ’critical’ by the Fire and Rescue Services at around 12.55PM.
Crowds of people lined Byker Bridge to witness the spreading flames which were carried towards Byker by the light winds. An anonymous onlooker at the scene said: “Somebody came in to my office and told me about the fire so I came to see for myself. I work in a school on the other side of Byker and we were told to keep the children indoors as the smoke was heading that way. Obviously the safety of the children in our care is vital.”
News spread across the social networking sites Facebook and Twitter. Students from the local halls of residences Quay Point, Manor Bank and Knoll Court rushed in groups to see the fire with cameras and many were on mobile phones telling their friends what they could see. Northumbria student Sophie Watchman, on returning from Byker Bridge, said: “I saw on somebody’s Facebook status than a man had set himself on fire but I don’t know whether it’s just a rumour.”
Just hours after the fire broke out there was a group created on Facebook with people joining to claim they had survived the ‘Great Fire of Byker’. By 4.13PM there were over 3000 members in the group.
Sirens were still echoing throughout the city two hours after the flames broke out and a helicopter was hovering over the area.
Another student in Byker, Becky Walls, said: “I looked out of my house and could see all the smoke so I came closer to see what was going on. It seems to be getting bigger.”
Local businesses close to the scene were stood on their doorsteps to see what the fuss was about. Construction workers on New Bridge Street, just off Byker Bridge, stopped work to take pictures of the smoke.
Workers at The Big Optician on Stephen Street, located close to the fire, were worried about the disruptions that their patients may have in accessing them. Karen Little of The Big Optician store said: “The Police have been very helpful as we have a clinic of patients due to come in later this afternoon and they have said they will allow them in even though the whole area has been taped off.”
“At the moment we are ok even though we are so close, but if the direction of the smoke changes then we have been told we may be evacuated.”
Locals feared the direction and activity of the smoke. Michael Hefford, a worried eye-witness close to the bridge, said: “I heard about the fire at work and I’ve just been to an appointment close-by. I thought more roads would be closed and I especially thought that the Metro would be off as the smoke seems to be dropping a bit. Clifford Street and Shields Road should be closed as the traffic seems to be hindering the Emergency Services.”
On the other hand, some people seem to be making light of the bad situation. Lee Brogden paced Byker Bridge with an ice-cream cart selling confectionary goods to onlookers for the small price of fifty-pence.
He said: “The fire started around mid-day. I’ve sold a lot more ice creams than I usually do due to the amount of people watching from the bridge.”
Later, water was used from the River Tyne to help put the fire out.
By 3:30PM Police asked crowds to disperse because they were hindering the work of the Emergency Services.
