Boy, 14, arrested over fire that destroyed library

A red and white fire and rescue service tape cordons off the area around the former Billingham library building, which has been gutted by fire. The building has no roof. The side of the building facing the camera would have had a metal structure or cladding, but it is charred by the fire and partly destroyed. The cordon tape is set around a birch tree on a grassed area outside the building.

A 14-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of arson after a fire destroyed a former library.

Crews from Cleveland fire service were called to Billingham's old library, at the back of Billingham Health Centre, in Queensway, on Tuesday at about 18:20 BST.

A spokesperson for the service said everyone was accounted for but the derelict building had sustained "100% damage".

Cleveland Police said a boy had been taken into custody and emergency services remained at the site carrying out investigations.

Eight fire engines from seven stations attended the scene.

Images from Tuesday showed the building well alight while fire crews worked to extinguish the flames.

In the aftermath, images show a building ravaged by the flames, with charred debris inside the property.

An orange inferno blaze lights up a building in Billingham in Stockton-on-Tees. There is a large fire in a building on a road which has two traffic lights.

On Wednesday afternoon, Cleveland Police said the surrounding roads had reopened.

Insp Barnes said the fire had caused "significant disruption" for "the public, shops and businesses in the area" and asked anyone with information to come forward.

A close-up of a section of the former Billingham library building, which has been gutted by fire. The building has no roof. The side of the building facing the camera would have had a metal structure or cladding, but it is charred by the fire and partly destroyed. One section is missing, meaning it is possible to see inside the library. There are charred beams and a first floor railing with burnt debris all over the floor.
A red and white fire and rescue service tape cordons off the area around the former Billingham library building. A sign for the library is still on the red-brick wall of the building, next to a window or door that is black with fire damage and partly damaged. Further along the wall, there is firther damage to what would have been a metal gate. There is charred debris on the floor.

Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram and listen to Radio Tees on BBC Sounds.

Get in touch

Do you have a story suggestion for BBC Tees?

Related internet links

Original source Boy, 14, arrested over fire that destroyed library

Back to home