Fire at old Grove Leisure Centre building
The former Grove Leisure Centre building has been destroyed by fire.
Crews from Newark, Collingham, Bingham, Tuxford, Grantham, Brant Broughton, an aerial ladder platform and a crew from London Road, Nottingham, tackled the blaze.
Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service said at 2.30am on Saturday that the incident had been scaled down. It was reported that three crews were still at the scene, on London Road, Balderton, at 7.15am.
Approximately 50 firefighters fought the blaze at its height.
The fire, which began at around 8.20pm, caught hold again after around an hour and a half when it spread to another part of the building.
Eyewitnesses say the majority of the building has been destroyed.
Group manager Damien West (pictured above), incident commander for Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue, said at 11.10pm: "We were called at 8.20pm to reports of a building fire.
"On arrival, crews were met by a fully involved fire in the disused swimming pool area.
"We have worked to contain the fire, which spread to the adjacent sports hall at an early stage, and we have worked to protect surrounding buildings.
"At this time, we're now starting to scale down but we will be in attendance overnight making sure the fire is extinguished and is damped down.
"A joint investigation with Nottinghamshire Police will start on Saturday morning.
"The fire service did not commit men into the building. They surrounded the fire to protect surrounding buildings."
Mr West said there had been no reports of any casualties at the scene.
He said: "We are aware that asbestos was involved but we asked local residents to keep windows and doors closed.
"The fire service worked with Public Health England, the ambulance service and police to advise local residents.
"There is no residual risk but people should keep windows and doors closed."
A spokesman for Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service said at 10.45pm: "We got a call at 8.20pm and now we are containing the fire, which is in a disused sports centre and gym.
"Nine pumps attended the incident along with an aerial ladder platform.
"This is a joint effort between firefighters from Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire.
"Firefighters are expected to be at the scene for some time to come.
"There are approximately 50 firefighters at the scene.
"It is being treated as a serious incident."
The Newark Academy, which is based behind the former Grove Leisure Centre, said on Twitter that its buildings were safe.
Eyewitness Ryan Dooley, a sales executive at the Advertiser, said: "I was outside in the garden at about 8:45pm when I heard some really loud bangs.
"It sounded like someone stacking wooden planks but much louder. I thought it was probably some kids messing around, or possibly fireworks, so went inside.
"A few minutes later I could hear sirens, and a lot of voices and commotion outside.
"I looked around and through the glass in the back door I could just see an orange glow mixed with blue flashes.
"I ran outside and saw the fire straight away. When I left the house to walk round there were people everywhere on their phones taking pictures, and I counted nine fire engines and probably 25 firefighters, who were rushing between the blaze and the engines.
"They were unrolling hoses and there was lots of chatter on their radios. Not long after they taped the area off and moved everyone back further.
"There were more bangs as the building collapsed and then they began to raise their crane up to tackle the flames. The flames then died down and the whole area filled with smoke."
Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue said the building was well alight.
Witnesses at the scene have reported that the majority of the building has been destroyed.
An eyewitness at the scene said the fire spread quickly when it caught hold.
Sean Scott Stevens posted a video of the fire on Facebook.
