Boys Aged 12 and 14 Arrested After Major Nottingham City Centre Fire

Two boys aged 12 and 14 have been arrested on suspicion of arson and criminal damage after a major fire caused significant damage to a building in Nottingham city centre.

The blaze broke out above Escobar on Market Street shortly after 22:00 BST on Monday, with 12 fire engines and around 70 firefighters attending at the height of the incident.

No injuries have been reported.

Nottinghamshire Police said both boys remain in police custody as officers and firefighters investigate how the blaze started.

Major fire above Escobar

Firefighters were called to the building shortly after 22:00.

By 22:55, 12 fire engines were at the scene as crews worked to contain the fire.

Richard Booth, a station manager with Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service, said the building had suffered "quite significant damage", particularly to the roof.

He said the building was not considered safe for firefighters to enter because of the risk of internal collapse.

A structural engineer was being brought in to assess the condition of the property.

Risk of internal collapse

Booth said the building was not currently considered at risk of collapsing externally, but the damage inside was more serious.

The roof had been heavily affected by the fire, with several roof trusses described as badly damaged.

Firefighters remained at the scene to deal with smaller pockets of fire and check for hotspots.

The surrounding buildings were also inspected before being handed back to businesses.

Residents evacuated

Everyone inside the affected building was evacuated during the incident.

A number of residents were also evacuated from nearby properties as emergency crews tackled the blaze.

Witnesses described seeing large flames, heavy smoke and extensive emergency service activity across the city centre.

Ian Wikberg, who had been leaving a concert at Rock City, said there were people standing outside in slippers and dressing gowns after being evacuated.

He described the scene as frightening, with roads blocked and the air filled with smoke.

Police arrest two boys

Nottinghamshire Police confirmed at 11:21 BST that two boys, aged 12 and 14, had been arrested on suspicion of arson and criminal damage.

Both remain in police custody.

Supt Chris Pearson said the investigation was still in its early stages and that officers were working alongside the fire service to establish how the fire was caused.

He said the rapid arrests had been made after police were called to the incident.

The arrests are allegations only and neither boy has been convicted of an offence.

City centre disruption

The fire caused major disruption across Nottingham.

Several roads around Market Street were closed while firefighters dealt with the blaze and assessed the safety of the surrounding buildings.

Some roads have since reopened, although traffic restrictions remain.

Nottingham Express Transit suspended tram services between Nottingham Station and The Forest, affecting stops including Lace Market, Old Market Square, Royal Centre, Nottingham Trent University and High School.

Bus services were also diverted, with passengers warned to expect severe delays.

Businesses affected

A number of businesses within the cordon were unable to open because they could not safely access their premises.

Those affected included Josephine's, The Souvlaki, Market Street Dental Care, Revolución de Cuba and Candyzone.

Josephine's said its own building had not been directly affected as far as staff were aware, but access remained restricted because of the emergency response and inspections of neighbouring buildings.

Other business owners expressed concern about lost trading and damage caused by the emergency response.

Investigation continues

Fire investigators are now working with police to establish the cause of the blaze.

Fire crews are expected to return to the scene to check for hotspots, while structural assessments will determine when the affected building can safely be accessed.

The fire caused substantial disruption to Nottingham city centre, but emergency services said no one was seriously injured.

For now, the focus remains on establishing exactly how the fire started and what led to the arrests of the two boys.

The investigation remains ongoing.