Officials at a rugby union club have hailed two have-a-go heroes who saved their stand from going up in flames on the eve of the new season.
Work colleagues Martin Page and Sam Carsberg leapt into action when they saw the Wade Stand at Huddersfield RUFC’s Lockwood Park ground on fire.
The duo, from IT firm P2 Technologies Ltd based in the Old Stable Block opposite the stand, grabbed fire extinguishers and sprinted across the pitch.
Company director Martin, 35, and senior engineer Sam, 42, doused the flames before firefighters arrived, saving the building from serious damage.
The blaze happened at 5.45pm on Monday and was spotted by staff leaving work.
Martin said: “At first it was just one seat on fire so we rang the fire brigade but, within a minute or so, two seats were on fire and the flames were up to the roof.
“We knew we couldn’t wait for the fire brigade so me and Sam took a water and carbon dioxide extinguisher and ran across the pitch.
“We knew it was manageable at that stage but if it was any bigger we’d have waited.
“We put water on and at first it flared up before we put it out. It took the whole canister.”
Martin said the fire brigade arrived five minutes later and crews checked that the fire was fully out.
“The woodwork and plastic was still red hot,” he added. “Another five minutes and it could have been considerably worse.”
Last season Huddersfield RUFC won promotion as champions to National League II (North) and were preparing for two home friendly matches against Sheffield Tigers and Cleckheaton on August 23 and 30.
The 500-seater Wade Stand is the only stand and is popular with fans.
Club chairman Mark Birch expressed his thanks to Martin and Sam and said: “Their actions saved the stand and we are lucky to have people there to keep an eye on the facilities.
“The whole stand could have been lost just at a time when we have got promotion and are looking to build bigger crowds. It’s a big relief.”
The club has also invested a great deal of time and effort in improving the pitch ahead of the new campaign.
Martin said they saw four young teenagers hiding in bushes as they tackled the fire. Material had been stuffed between the seats and set alight.
Police are investigating.
