Firefighters rushed to an iconic St Albans park yesterday.
At about 7.45pm on Sunday May 10, fire crews were called to Clarence Park to extinguish a bin engulfed in flames by the cricket pavilion.
It started because an unknown person threw a still-smouldering barbecue into a plastic wheelie bin, setting its contents alight.
Two members of pavilion staff, Adam Twidell and bar manager Clive Maynard, saw the blaze and used fire extinguishers on-site.
They then called Herts Fire and Rescue Service, which used hose reels to put it out once and for all.
St Albans Cricket Club will now be forced to buy new fire extinguishers and replace the destroyed bin - but there was no damage to the historic pavilion.
Chairman of St Albans Cricket Club, Paul Sands, said: “This was a mindless act by a member of the public, which could have had disastrous consequences.
“We would like to remind people that the use of barbecues is strictly prohibited in Clarence Park and there are strict penalties in place for anyone caught ignoring those rules.
“The St Albans Cricket Club pavilion is a historic and much-loved building, which we have spent thousands of pounds renovating in recent months, and it is only the quick thinking of our members that prevented major damage.”
Did you see the fire? Get in contact at hertsad@archant.co.uk
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