Nightclub badly damaged in blaze...SEE THE PICTURES HERE (From South Wales Argus)
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Nightclub badly damaged in blaze...SEE THE PICTURES HERE
2:10pm Saturday 30th December 2006 in News By Ben Payne
A NEWPORT nightclub was severely damaged after a fire ripped through the ground floor of the building.
Firefighters and police were called to the Retro Nightclub in Bridge Street at about 4.45am this morning.
A spokesman for the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service said the ground floor of the three-storey building was "well alight".
Firefighters from Maindee, Malpas and Duffryn were still at the scene, which was cordoned off with police tape, at 10am.
The spokesman said fire investigation officers and a structural engineer had also inspected the site.
She added that nobody was injured in the incident and nobody was evacuated from surrounding buildings.
Divisional officer Dewi Rose, of South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, said the cause of the fire was being investigated.
But it is not believed to be suspicious.
"Four appliances attended the incident and gained entry through a window," he said.
"It took about one-and-a-half hours to put it out. Nobody was injured and nobody was evacuated. The club has been severely damaged by heat and smoke.
"A Newport City Council structural engineer came out to inspect the building and the cause of the fire is being investigated.
"We do not know the cause at this time."
A spokesman for Gwent Police confirmed that an investigation was launched.
She said it was believed the fire started in a locked room towards the rear of the building.
Neighbouring buildings, including the City Cinema, suffered minor smoke damage, but were open as normal.
One local trader, who did not wish to be named, said: "It was such a shock when I came in this morning and saw the building cordoned off and police and firefighters outside.
"It's not a very nice time of year for something like this to happen. I'm just pleased nobody was hurt."
The owner of the nightclub, who is believed to live in Bristol, was unavailable for comment.
