Arson probe as fire rips through historic Cutty Sark

 

 

Police have launched an arson inquiry into the fire that ripped through the Cutty Sark today.

The blaze reduced the 19th-century tea clipper to a charred wreck.

But experts said they are confident the ship can be restored because many of its historic artefacts, including its figurehead, sails, masts, prow and coach-housing, had previously been removed.

 

 

 

 

 

Scores of firefighters battled to save the ship as flames 100 feet high engulfed the hull at its dry dock in Greenwich after an explosion at about 4.45am.

Police are analysing CCTV images, thought to show people in the area shortly before the fire started. The 280ft ship, built in 1869, was undergoing a £ 25million refit aimed at securing its future as one of London's leading tourist attractions.

Chris Livett, chairman of the Cutty Sark Trust, said the ship was salvageable.

 

 

 

 

The fire caused extensive damage to the main deck, the 'tween decks and the lower deck as well as planking on the hull. But around 60 per cent of the planks had been removed.

The main worry was the original metal frame, which made the ship so fast, had been damaged.

 

 

 

 

Mr Livett said: "Three decks are 80 per cent damaged. There is significant damage to the planking and some of the wrought iron has buckled.

"We are making temporary repairs to the supports so it doesn't fall over. We are very, very fortunate that at least 50 per cent of the ship isn't here. The masts, the bowsprit, the lifeboats and even the ship's wheel are all in Chatham Dockyard."

 

Richard Doughty, chief executive of the trust, said: "When you lose the original fabric you lose the touch of craftsmanship. You lose history itself."

Eight fire engines were at the scene at 5am and it took more than two hours for firefighters to bring the blaze under control. It is thought that tar on the ship's timbers helped the flames spread.

Local residents were evacuated but then allowed back after firefighters ruled out the possibility of gas cylinders being on board. Don Greenwood, 40, a photographer who lives in nearby Nevada Street, said: "I rang emergency services and said there was a big fire at Greenwich.

 

 

I think it's the Cutty Sark. And they said 'Where's that?' They said they needed a road. Then I left the flat and ran down with my camera. For a while I couldn't take any pictures. I just felt sick."

Jamie Tucker, 23, a labourer, who lives on the Meridian Estate, overlooking the ship, said: "I heard this big explosion. It must have been done deliberately, it started so quickly."

Greenwich town centre was closed to traffic and the Cutty Sark DLR station was shut for nearly three hours. Several bus routes were diverted.

The Queen was due to visit Greenwich's Royal Maritime Museum tomorrow.

 

 

 

Jamie Tucker, 23, a labourer, who lives on the Meridian Estate, overlooking the Cutty Sark, said today: "I just heard this big explosion. I woke up because my bedroom is right outside.

"I thought it must have been the car park on fire at first. That was where the smoke was coming from and then I saw this big cloud going up and realised it was the boat itself.

"For the Cutty Sark to go is a real shock. It's devastating. This boat is monumental. It has always been here.

"It must have been done deliberately, it started so quickly. At first the front section was on fire but then the middle of the boat just went up in flames. The flames were burning all through the wood and you could smell it in the air."

Angie Collins, 36, a mother of one, said she woke when she heard what she thought was torrential rain, battering against her second floor flat window on the estate. It turned out to be water from the firemen's hoses.

Ms Collins said today: "The flames were about 100ft in the air. It was just completely engulfed in fire. The police came and knocked on everybody's doors to evacuate the building. We all had to wait outside the block.

"They reckoned there were gas bottles on the boat that could blow up. I asked them about the possibility of that happening and the police said it was high."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bloody shame. I always visit when I go to Greenwich. :(

Arson probe as fire rips through historic Cutty Sark

 

 

Police have launched an arson inquiry into the fire that ripped through the Cutty Sark today.

The blaze reduced the 19th-century tea clipper to a charred wreck.

But experts said they are confident the ship can be restored because many of its historic artefacts, including its figurehead, sails, masts, prow and coach-housing, had previously been removed.

 

 

 

 

 

Scores of firefighters battled to save the ship as flames 100 feet high engulfed the hull at its dry dock in Greenwich after an explosion at about 4.45am.

Police are analysing CCTV images, thought to show people in the area shortly before the fire started. The 280ft ship, built in 1869, was undergoing a £ 25million refit aimed at securing its future as one of London's leading tourist attractions.

Chris Livett, chairman of the Cutty Sark Trust, said the ship was salvageable.

 

 

 

 

The fire caused extensive damage to the main deck, the 'tween decks and the lower deck as well as planking on the hull. But around 60 per cent of the planks had been removed.

The main worry was the original metal frame, which made the ship so fast, had been damaged.

 

 

 

 

Mr Livett said: "Three decks are 80 per cent damaged. There is significant damage to the planking and some of the wrought iron has buckled.

"We are making temporary repairs to the supports so it doesn't fall over. We are very, very fortunate that at least 50 per cent of the ship isn't here. The masts, the bowsprit, the lifeboats and even the ship's wheel are all in Chatham Dockyard."

 

Richard Doughty, chief executive of the trust, said: "When you lose the original fabric you lose the touch of craftsmanship. You lose history itself."

Eight fire engines were at the scene at 5am and it took more than two hours for firefighters to bring the blaze under control. It is thought that tar on the ship's timbers helped the flames spread.

Local residents were evacuated but then allowed back after firefighters ruled out the possibility of gas cylinders being on board. Don Greenwood, 40, a photographer who lives in nearby Nevada Street, said: "I rang emergency services and said there was a big fire at Greenwich.

 

 

I think it's the Cutty Sark. And they said 'Where's that?' They said they needed a road. Then I left the flat and ran down with my camera. For a while I couldn't take any pictures. I just felt sick."

Jamie Tucker, 23, a labourer, who lives on the Meridian Estate, overlooking the ship, said: "I heard this big explosion. It must have been done deliberately, it started so quickly."

Greenwich town centre was closed to traffic and the Cutty Sark DLR station was shut for nearly three hours. Several bus routes were diverted.

The Queen was due to visit Greenwich's Royal Maritime Museum tomorrow.

 

 

 

Jamie Tucker, 23, a labourer, who lives on the Meridian Estate, overlooking the Cutty Sark, said today: "I just heard this big explosion. I woke up because my bedroom is right outside.

"I thought it must have been the car park on fire at first. That was where the smoke was coming from and then I saw this big cloud going up and realised it was the boat itself.

"For the Cutty Sark to go is a real shock. It's devastating. This boat is monumental. It has always been here.

"It must have been done deliberately, it started so quickly. At first the front section was on fire but then the middle of the boat just went up in flames. The flames were burning all through the wood and you could smell it in the air."

Angie Collins, 36, a mother of one, said she woke when she heard what she thought was torrential rain, battering against her second floor flat window on the estate. It turned out to be water from the firemen's hoses.

Ms Collins said today: "The flames were about 100ft in the air. It was just completely engulfed in fire. The police came and knocked on everybody's doors to evacuate the building. We all had to wait outside the block.

"They reckoned there were gas bottles on the boat that could blow up. I asked them about the possibility of that happening and the police said it was high."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bloody shame. I always visit when I go to Greenwich. :(

 

Then perhaps you should visit The Valley up the road instead!!:rolleyes:

Then perhaps you should visit The Valley up the road instead!!:rolleyes:

perhaps peeps from up the road should meet me at the pier or the observatory as I know where those are :laugh3:

perhaps peeps from up the road should meet me at the pier or the observatory as I know where those are :laugh3:

 

And then show you the way to The Valley for Charlton-Southampton?:rolleyes:

Whoever it was did a good job. Nothing more than a glorified fireplace now.

:cry:

i've listened that could be repaired...is that true?

Finally, something in the news to take away from Maddie.

:cry:

i've listened that could be repaired...is that true?

the timbers are easy to replace, but the huge iron shell is warped from the intense heat. Probably won't be the same again

Then perhaps you should visit The Valley up the road instead!!:rolleyes:

It'll be fairly cheap next season :P

It'll be fairly cheap next season :P

 

But cheerful.;)

It was Prince Philip