Party poppers blamed for Rotherham nightclub fire

An explosion of midnight party poppers were to blame for a fire at a Rotherham nightclub during the new year celebrations, firefighters said this week.

Staff were forced to evacuate the dancefloor after a fire broke out as revellers were welcoming the new year.

2010 was just ten minutes old when more than 700 revellers were ushered to safety by staff at the Liquid nightclub on Main Street after fire crews were called to tackle the blaze.

Firefighters gained access to the ceiling where the fire had started and put it out using handheld extinguishers.

Crews were at the scene for two hours but the neighbouring Envy nightclub was unaffected by the incident.

A fire service Spokesman said: "We were called to the club just after midnight.

"It seems what happened was many people in their celebrations were setting off party poppers, not realising there was electrical wiring attached to the ceiling for the lights, which eventually caught fire."

Some disappointed partygoers commented on the Liquid group Facebook page after the incident, with many demanding their money back.

Donna Healey said: "I couldn't believe it. Just after midnight and I thought there was going to be a show on when they were clearing the dance floor, but then the whole club started chanting: 'The roof, the roof, the roof is on fire'.

"There was no way we were all going to fit into Envy so we ended up going home at half 12."

Fellow clubber Helen Robinson said: "We paid £10 each to get in at 11.50pm and and were then taken out at 12 when the roof was on fire.

"We should get our money back."

A spokesman for Liquid said: "Apologies for the inconvenience of New Year's Eve-it was not quite what we had in mind.

"We would tell anyone who had a ticket for the New Year's Eve night to please show it at reception for free entry to the club any night in January."