Blaze at takeaway ‘suspicious’ – police
A BLAZE which destroyed a Billingham takeaway is being treated as suspicious by police.
Multiple crews from Cleveland Fire Brigade were called to Station Road, in Billingham, in the early hours of Thursday in response to a fire at Mimo’s pizza shop.
Members of the public were urged to stay away from the area as crews tackled the blaze which ripped through the takeaway, described on social media as “one of the oldest in Billingham”.
Cleveland Police have since released a statement following the fire.
As the force continue with their enquiries, they are treating the cause of the blaze as suspicious.
A spokesperson from Cleveland Police said: “Police received a report of a fire around 4am on Thursday, July 7 at a pizza shop on Station Road, Billingham.
“The fire is being treated as suspicious
at this time whilst enquiries continue.”
As well as the pizza shop being badly damaged in the fire, being gutted out in the blaze, the hair salon next door has also felt the brunt of the damage.
Claire Wilkinson is the owner of The Wash House Hair Salon and took to the business’ Facebook page to inform customers that the salon will be closed until further notice whilst they assess the damage.
Claire said: “I first got the call from another business owner about 3am saying there was a fire.
“We’re closed now and for the foreseeable future because our salon has been deemed as structurally unsafe as a result of the fire.
“The building is being assessed and our roof may even have to be replaced because it has been badly damaged because of next door’s fire spreading.
“We’ll eventually need industrial cleaners to sort things out because the smoke damage is extreme, we’re gutted but it is what it is – I’m just pleased we’re all safe and noone was hurt.”
Six fire engines from all over Teesside tackled the Billingham blaze, leaving the scene almost five hours later.
A spokesperson from Cleveland Fire Brigade said: “We were called on Thursday, July 7, at 3.37am to a fire on Station Road, Billingham.
“Six fire engines in attendance from Billingham, Hartlepool, Saltburn and Thornaby including a Combined Aerial Rescue Platform (CARP).
“Shop well alight, we used two hose reels and four breathing apparatus were in use left the scene at 8.39am.
“Investigations are taking place as per our usual procedure.”