Arson probe after empty home goes up in flames
AFIRE which ripped through a house in the early hours of yesterday is being treated as suspected arson.
The blaze at Marlborough House on Newport Road, Cardiff, burned for several hours.
Pictures of the wreckage showed most of the disused building’s windows have been smashed, and a huge section of the roof has fallen in.
As a result of yesterday’s fire, Number One Hundred – the hotel next door – also suffered some smoke damage and flooding, with kitchen equipment including two fridges badly damaged by water which flowed into the basement.
Abi Prothero, the hotel’s owner, said she was not on site when the fire started but was quickly called there by a guest as the hotel was evacuated.
She said: “Our kitchen, in the basement, is water damaged – and our fridges – but it could be worse.
“It’s been simple enough to repair so far, but we’ll find out when the structural engineer comes later.
“I’m hoping we can still host people for the rugby coming up. We have seven rooms and at the moment they’re all booked for the rugby.”
Huge sections of Marlborough House are now burned out, with debris littered across the floor and furniture melted. No casualties were reported, and neighbouring properties were evacuated.
The derelict building, formerly a guest house and then a student house, had been put up for sale in October last year.
Photographs from last year show how the building had been stripped of furniture and fittings, and the Western Mail understands the building may have been in use by squatters.
Fire crews and police attended the incident shortly after 1am, and the road was closed for part of the morning.
A spokesperson for South Wales Fire and Rescue Service said: “At approximately 1.22am we received reports of a fire in a derelict building on Newport Road in Roath, Cardiff.
“Multiple crews from fire and rescue stations across South Wales attended the scene alongside emergency service colleagues.
“Crews used specialist equipment, including an aerial ladder platform, ground monitor and hose reel jets, to extinguish the fire.
“A stop message was received at approximately 4.41am.”
A spokesperson for South Wales Police confirmed the arson investigation, saying: “Police in Cardiff are investigating a suspected arson attack after being called shortly after 1.30am this morning concerning a fire at an unoccupied property on Newport Road, Cardiff.
“Officers attended and assisted in putting in place a full road closure.
“Neighbouring properties were evacuated as a precaution.
“The fire was brought under control within an hour. No casualties were reported.”
Fire crews were then spotted at the scene at 11am yesterday, and left shortly before 11.45am, reportedly planning to return later to assess the damage.
One neighbour, who did not want to be named, said: “I came outside and it was probably about 4.15am when I could go back in.
“It looked at one point like it wasn’t going to go out at all.
“My room got flooded as well because it’s underground, so it’s not a great day for me.
“Last night the water was on the carpet, now it’s a little better but all my stuff is outside.”