September 2, 2016 10.57 pm This story is over 96 months old

Lincoln youth centre destroyed by fire

The St Giles Youth Centre in Lincoln has been destroyed by a fire. Update, Saturday, September 3, 8am: Firefighters are still on scene and an arson investigation into the cause is ongoing. Police are appealing for witnesses. The fire started at around 10pm on Friday, September 2. Five crews are attending the blaze on Swift Gardens. It’s…

The St Giles Youth Centre in Lincoln has been destroyed by a fire.


Update, Saturday, September 3, 8am: Firefighters are still on scene and an arson investigation into the cause is ongoing. Police are appealing for witnesses.


The fire started at around 10pm on Friday, September 2.

The fire started at around 10pm on Friday. Photo: Ian Betton

The fire started at around 10pm on Friday. Photo: Ian Betton

Five crews are attending the blaze on Swift Gardens.

It’s not believed anyone was in the building at the time.

The fire severely damaged the building. Photo: Ian Betton

The fire severely damaged the building. Photo: Ian Betton

Eye witnesses reported the fire began in the youth centre and quickly spread to the community centre next door.

Ian Betton said: “It keeps going up and just erupted. The smoke is thick and it keeps escalating. The roof is also starting to give way. There’s likely to be nothing left.”

Zoe Clarke added: “All the windows have been destroyed, the roof has caved in and the building is crumbling. The side of the building is falling off.

“A cherry picker fire engine has turned up and there is a constant hose on it. There’s not much left of the building.”

At 11.30pm, local residents reported the youth centre had collapsed, and surrounding trees had begun to catch alight.

Photo: Zoe Clarke

Photo: Zoe Clarke

Tall flames could be seen by eye witnesses. Photo: Liam Beresford

Tall flames could be seen by eye witnesses. Photo: Liam Beresford

By 11.30pm the building had collapsed and surrounding trees had begun to catch alight. Photo: Zoe Clarke

By 11.30pm the building had collapsed and surrounding trees had begun to catch alight. Photo: Zoe Clarke

More details as we get them.


Are you in the area? Contact our news team on [email protected].