A huge fire has ripped through the grounds of Bo’ness United at Newton Park.
According to reports, the blaze was started from the new Astroturf due to be laid this summer.
The fire started at around 1.30pm on Tuesday with more than 20 firefighters tackling the blaze, which started in rolls of astroturf at the home of the Junior football team, Newton Park.
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A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokeswoman said: “The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service was alerted at 1.29pm on Tuesday, June 4 to reports of a fire at a football ground in Bo’ness.
“Operations Control mobilised three fire appliances to Jamieson Avenue where firefighters are currently working to extinguish the fire in a single storey building.
For anyone who has asked or DM'd us - from what we can tell it's the new astroturf that was to be laid over the summer
— Bo'ness United (@bonessunited) June 4, 2019
In a post on social media, Bo'ness Community Council said: "Our thoughts are with everyone involved in @nessunitedfc @NewtownAssoc and @Kinneilband on the devastating fire at Newtown Park.
"Such a blow given the work that's been ongoing recently."
The band's secretary Robert Docherty said the fire was "gut-wrenching and soul-destroying".
He said: "I felt like bursting into tears when I saw it.
"We're led to believe the kitchen area roof has been destroyed."
Our thoughts are with everyone involved in @nessunitedfc @NewtownAssoc and @Kinneilband on the devastating fire at Newtown Park, such a blow given the work thats been ongoing recently. Thanks to the officers @SFRSYourSafety who were on the scene quickly
— Bo'ness Community Council (@BonessCC) June 4, 2019
An eyewitness, Philip Mearns, who had been out walking his dog, first thought a house was on fire and ran to the scene, arriving at the same time as two of the fire engines.
He told the Press Association: “At first it looked like they were going to struggle as they could not find a fire hydrant but once they hooked up they immediately set to work.
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“There were other bystanders helping redirect the traffic and block the road of until police arrived.”
Mr Mearns added: “When you first arrived it was the heat that you initially felt, however, what was strange considering the size and colour was there didn’t seem to be a burning smell.
“The fire started on the pitch of the football park which was very recently being worked on but it quickly spread to the band hall next door which took only a few minutes to go up.
“I am only glad that everyone is OK and hope that they quickly get to the bottom of what or who started the fire.”
Smoke could be seen from miles away on the Edinburgh to Glasgow train line near Linlithgow station.
The ground, home to the East of Scotland Football League club for more than 70 years, was handed to Newtown Park Trust by Falkirk Council in 2015.
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