Exeter City have released a statement after a fire broke out at their St James Park stadium, with firefighters called to the scene to tackle the blaze
Exeter City have issued a statement this morning after a blaze tore through their ground.
The League One side are now evaluating the extent of the damage following the fire that broke out at St James Park late last night (Wednesday, November 12), which sparked a massive response from Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, reports the Mirror.
Firefighters were called out at 10.10pm and remained at the scene this morning. In a statement, the club said: “Exeter City Football Club can confirm a small area of the stadium was damaged by fire last night.
“The fire is understood to have broken out in the St James Road and Well Street corner of the stadium and caused damage to the temporary building which houses the stadium’s control room.
“The alarm was raised just after 10pm and the fire was attended by more than five fire crews who brought the flames under control within two hours.
“We will be assessing the damage today and will update when we have more information.”
The club concluded: “Thank you to the members of the public who reported the incident and for the fast response of the fire crews who brought the fire under control preventing further damage.”
Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said the fire involved an electrical consumer unit at the ground and spread to an adjacent portacabin and outside storage area.
About 60% of the portacabin was damaged by the blaze, along with electrical cupboards and electrical intake.
Several tools were used to extinguish the blaze, including six sets of breathing apparatus, three hose reel jets, one safety jet, hydraulic rescue equipment, two positive pressure ventilation fans and three thermal imaging cameras.
The stadium unveiled a £3.4 million redevelopment in 2018, which saw the construction of a new stand and changing rooms, among other facilities, Exeter Daily reported. The four-stand stadium has a capacity of 8,219.
Exeter are currently 19th in League One after 15 games.