Large fire rips through Legion
Slough: Blaze destroys inside of Royal British Legion pub
A large fire ripped through the insides of the former Royal British Legion pub on Stoke Road, bringing firefighters from eight stations rushing to the scene on Wednesday, February 28.
The blaze destroyed the inside of the pub – but the fire crews’ actions prevented the building from burning down completely, containing the fire and minimising damage to the external part of the building.
The Lady Haig Club is derelict.
The Slough branch of the Royal British Legion closed in 2011 and the hall has not opened since.
Plans to knock it down and replace it with 30-40 flats have been floating around on Slough council's planning portal since 2015.
At around 11.40pm on Wednesday, February 28, Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service received a report of a ‘fire at a derelict commercial unit on Stoke Road, Slough’.
Maidenhead Fire Station has confirmed that it was the former Lady Haig RBL (Slough) Club, based at number 70 on the street.
Crews from eight fire services raced to the scene Langley, Slough, Windsor, Ascot, Crowthorne, Newbury and Wokingham Road Fire Station and Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service.
The Aerial Ladder Platform, for dispersing water from above, was also brought in from Whitley Wood Fire Station.
In addition, the Incident Command Unit from Maidenhead Fire Station was deployed.
During a large incident like this (typically four fire engines or more), these units will be sent so the Incident Commander can manage how it is handled and the safety of the firefighters involved.
Two fire officers were also sent to the scene – often deployed in the case of major incidents.
Upon arrival, crews discovered a fire burning on the ground floor of the building.
Two firefighters wearing breathing apparatus extinguished the fire using two hose reels and one main jet.
Maidenhead Fire Station firefighters at the scene say that the inside of the old pub, filled with debris, was ‘gutted’ by the fire – but that crews managed to stop the spread of the blaze to the external part of the building, saving it from burning down.
Crews tackled the fire for about five hours and 10 minutes – and were still in attendance at the scene the next morning.
Police continue to investigate the fire as a suspected arson.
A man in his forties has been arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life. He has been bailed.
An investigation into this is ongoing and anyone with information is asked to call 101 or make a report online quoting reference 43240095082.