Gallery: Huge blaze at nightclub

AN ESSEX nightclub was ravaged by fire last night as staff prepared to open for the evening.

AN ESSEX nightclub was ravaged by fire last night as staff prepared to open for the evening.

The blaze in the roof of the Sugar Hut nightclub in High Street, Brentwood was reported to fire control at about 7.40pm.

Ten fire crews from across Essex were called to tackle the flames, discovering the first floor of the three-storey building heavily smoke logged upon arrival.

As staff prepared to open the nightclub for the evening the fire was discovered and all members of staff were safely evacuated from the building.

Incident commander-station officer Dave Tayler said the fire was in the roof of the 500-year-old building and was well alight.

Firefighters used two aerial ladder platforms as well as 12 breathing sets and four hose reel jets to extinguish the blaze.

Incident commander-assistant divisional officer Steve Reynolds said: “Firefighters have worked excellently this evening tackling the fire at the Sugar Hut nightclub.

“Staff had been getting ready to open for the evening when the fire started. The staff were safely evacuated from the 500 year old listed building before fire crews had arrived.

“The cause of the fire is unknown at this stage, ECFRS and the police will be carrying out an investigation.”

A police spokeswoman said one member of staff was taken to hospital suffering minor smoke inhalation, and everyone else was safely evacuated from the building.

The High Street was closed to the public from Kings Road up to Wilsons Corner as fire crews tackled the blaze.

Fire crews from Brentwood, Ingatestone, Basildon, Romford, Grays, Baddow, Billericay and Southend were in attendance.

The fire was extinguished by about 10.40pm and firefighters remained at the scene of the incident to dampen down and check for remaining hotspots.