Arsonists reduce care home building to rubble
A DERELICT care home has been reduced to rubble in some areas after arsonists sparked a major fire on Sunday.
Firefighters were called to the former Hornsey Rise Memorial Home in Bosworth Road, Wellsborough, just before 3.30am.
The blaze raged for sev- eral hours and extra water had to be shuttled from a hydrant around half a mile away in attempt to control the inferno.
Demolition crews were called to knock down parts of the building at risk of collapse.
A 20x10m section of the two-storey home was destroyed, a fire spokesman said.
It is thought the charred remains of the home may have to be demolished.
Crews from Hinckley, Market Bosworth and Atherstone were later joined by a water carrier from Lutterworth, an incident support unit from Uppingham, a command support vehicle from Shepshed and an aerial ladder platform from Leicester’s Central station.
The fire service said the fire broke out in the roof and the building was “well alight” when crews arrived.
Foam and extra water from a hydrant near to Dixie Grammar School were used to bring the blaze under control.
By 5.10am the water carrier had arrived and crews reported progress had been made.
The police were called to close the road and compressed air foam jets were withdrawn.
At just before 7am, two main jets were still in use and crews were damping down hotspots.
Demolition crews removed the front facade of the building which was still on fire at 7.20am and dismantled a small outbuilding.
A fire spokesman said the blaze is believed to have been started deliberately. Crews remained at the site until 1.30pm on Sunday.