"Suspected arson" at cinema (From Bridgwater Mercury)

"Suspected arson" at cinema

3:19pm Tuesday 12th June 2007 in News By Dan Sales

A CINEMA in Bridgwater was the scene for a suspected arson attack that could have been out of one of its own films on Monday (June 11) night.

It is believed persons unknown ignited an exterior door opposite an escape exit at Penel Orlieu's Scott Cinemas at around 10.40pm, while people were still inside watching the latest movie.

Luckily a member of staff found the fire before it could take more seriously and managed to raise the alarm and partially deal with the problem themselves before emergency crews arrived to finish the job.

Cinema managing director Peter Hoare condemned those who had started the blaze.

"It looks like someone has set fire to the door from the outside that leads to the flat roof area," he said.

"Whoever did this started a fire that was adjacent to an emergency exit for a building that had people inside.

"The potential consequences of that ought to speak for themselves.

One fire engine from Bridgwater attended the film house and had to use one hose reel jet to fully extinguish the door fire.

Post-incident examinations revealed over 50% of the door had been damaged by the fire and that it had been started by deliberate ignition.

The police also attended the scene and Avon and Somerset Constabulary spokesman Helen Rossiter said there was not an appeal for any witnesses.

"It is not thought that anyone was injured," she told the Star.

"The incident is being treated as suspected arson."

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