Fire that engulfed Orchard Park bin store in Cambridge ‘started deliberately’

Firefighters believe a blaze that engulfed a bin store at Orchard Park in Cambridge was started deliberately.

A fire crew from Cambridge and the south roaming fire engine were called to Aster Way at 5.52pm on Saturday (19 October).

They wore breathing apparatus as they extinguished the fire and cleared the smoke using a positive pressure ventilation fan.

Resident Alexander Berridge said: “We were first alerted by someone who was using the community centre and playground in front of our apartment building.

“They spotted the smoke above the roofline and thought that the building itself was on fire. When we looked out of our apartment's rear windows we soon saw that the fire was actually in the bin store down in the car park.

“We called the fire service and evacuated the building to be on the safe side, then hurriedly moved our cars away from the quickly growing fire.

“The fire service arrived within minutes and quickly put out the blaze, however any bins which were made of plastic in the store have completely melted. In addition to this, the building now appears to have structural damage to the brickwork.”

Watch a video of the fire here.

A Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “The cause of the fire is believed to be deliberate. Anyone with information should contact police by visiting www.cambs.police.uk to submit an online report or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.”