Fire crews salvage banquet hall in blaze

COURAGEOUS firefighters saved thousands of pounds worth of banqueting equipment today while battling an inferno at a golf club in Essex.Most of the building at the Ballards Gore Golf and Country Club near Rochford was destroyed in the fire, which is believed to have been started deliberately at around 5am.

COURAGEOUS firefighters saved thousands of pounds worth of banqueting equipment today while battling an inferno at a golf club in Essex.

Most of the building at the Ballards Gore Golf and Country Club near Rochford was destroyed in the fire, which is believed to have been started deliberately at around 5am.

But firefighters were able to salvage tables which had been fully laid up for a banqueting function, along with DJ equipment and chandeliers.

Station Commander Martyn Hodder, the officer in charge, praised crews after the incident.

He said: “Although 75 per cent of the building was destroyed, due to the outstanding efforts of crews we were able to save the banqueting suite and kitchens of the property.

“Firefighters picked up the tables wholesale complete with place settings and glasses to get them out of the fire and once we had established the area was safe brought out DJ equipment and about ten crystal chandeliers which they had to take down from the ceilings.

“In the other part of the building, crews fought the fire on two fronts.”

Crews battled the single-storey building for more than two hours before putting out the fire at around 7am.

A joint police and fire investigation into the cause of the incident will be carried out.