A devastating fire has completely destroyed a seaside amusement arcade in South Shields, with emergency services working through the night to bring the huge blaze under control.
Second Major Fire in a Month
The fire at Ocean Beach Pleasure Park on Sea Road erupted shortly after 6pm on Boxing Day. This incident marks the second major fire at the popular North East coastal attraction in just four weeks. In late November, a fish and chip restaurant adjoining the arcade was also severely damaged in a blaze now treated as suspected arson.
Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service stated they received numerous 999 calls from the public at around 6.15pm alerting them to the emergency. At the height of the incident, they deployed six fire engines, specialist appliances, and four officers to the scene.
Firefighters battled the flames for almost ten hours, with the emergency finally declared over at 4am on Saturday, December 27th. The daylight revealed the full extent of the damage: a blackened, devastated shell where the amusement arcade once stood.
Police Investigation and Public Warnings
Northumbria Police have cordoned off the area and are guarding the site. A spokesperson confirmed that the force is working with the fire service to identify the cause. Following the previous fire on November 26th, police had already stated they were treating that incident as suspected arson.
During the Boxing Day fire, residents and neighbours were urgently advised to stay away from the immediate area and to keep their doors and windows closed as a safety precaution due to smoke and fumes.
The pleasure park is currently closed for the winter season, but it remains one of the region's premier open-air entertainment venues. Several police officers and patrol vehicles were still present at the scene throughout Saturday.
Community Impact and Ongoing Probe
Thankfully, no injuries have been reported in either fire. A spokesperson for Northumbria Police said after the November incident: ‘Shortly after 1.30am we were alerted to a fire at a premises in the Ocean Beach Amusement Park area of South Shields. Emergency services attended, and thankfully, no-one is reported to have been injured.’
The fire service has thanked Northumbria Police and the North East Ambulance Service for their assistance. They have emphasised that the origin of the latest fire cannot be confirmed at this time and have reiterated their request for the public to keep away from the cordoned-off site while investigations continue.
