UPDATE: Firefighters tackle blaze in Pill (From South Wales Argus)

UPDATE: Firefighters tackle blaze in Pill

3:49pm Sunday 24th February 2013 in News By Katey Pigden, Reporter

FIRE crews were called to a blaze at a disused building on Commercial Road in Newport opposite the old Kwik Save this afternoon.

Crews from Maindee, Duffryn and Malpas attended the scene after receiving calls from Chow Taxis, the building next door to the empty shop.

No one was in the building and it took firefighters just over an hour to put the fire out.

Watch manager for Maindee Steve Hulme said: "We received a call from Chow Taxis at 3.36pm.

"Three water ladders and three fire appliances were used to put out the fire which was started deliberately."

Raymond Perkins, 62, a taxi operator for Chow Taxis said: "The building next door went up in smoke and smoke started to come in our building.

"I came outside and got one of the drivers to call the fire service.

"Flames were up above the roof and we could hear the roof falling in."

Police shut Commercial Road off to traffic and said it would remain closed until someone from Newport council checked to see if the building was structurally safe.