Fire drama at Birketts Solicitors three-storey building in Ipswich

Fire crews at the scene (Image: Archant)

Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service was called to Birketts Solicitors, in Museum Street, at 9.25pm this evening. A couple of appliances were sent but a further two were called for because of the fire’s severity.

Chris Gibbs, fire group commander, said: “The fire started in a basement and spread up to a rear lean-to building but we managed to put the fire out fairly quickly and prevent the fire from spreading. We have got contact with the building’s occupiers who are helping us.

“Initially the call came in as a fire alarm but then we had calls from members of the public. Two pumps attended and the crew asked to make pumps four because of size of the fire and they didn’t know how far the fire had spread.”

Crews used breathing apparatus to get close to the fire and hose reels and jets to extinguish it. No one was hurt.

Mr Gibbs added: “The fire created a fair amount of damage to the building. We now need to investigate the cause of the fire.”

One fire appliance worked from Museum Street, with the other three working next to The Black Horse pub in Black Horse Lane, although the venue was not affected by the fire.

The fire, which was out by around 10.45pm, involved rubbish in the storage basement. A thermal imaging camera was used to look for hotspots in the building.

Crews from Ipswich East and Princes Street attended.