Fundraiser launched after fire ravages youth centre garden

NURSERY PUPILS RAISED THE ALARM AFTER BLAZE BROKE OUT NEXT DOOR

- By RAFI MAURO-BENADY

A West London youth centre has been left with a £10,000 bill after a fire broke out in a neighbouring building.

Hounslow Phab youth centre manager Debbie Falconer-Barnett, 52, says the blaze has devastated the building - and came perilously close to a nursery class of 30 children who were playing in the garden next to the burning building.

Ms Falconer-Barnett, who has worked at the centre in Myrtle Road for 22 years, sprang into action when one of the children alerted her to the blaze after noticing smoke.

Firefighters rushed to the scene at around 11.40am on Monday, March 12, while Ms Falconer-Barnett evacuated the children and "ran around getting fire extinguishers".

While no one was hurt in the fire, the youth centre backs on to one of the burned buildings. At one point Ms Falconer-Barnett had to break down a gate to douse the flames with water.

After the children raised the alarm, centre staff carried out the evacuation while Ms Falconer-Barnett scoured the building, making sure everyone was safe.