Arrest Made Following Fire at Pink Punters Nightclub
A man has been arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life after a fire broke out at an LGBT+ nightclub in the early hours of Sunday.
The Pink Punters nightclub in Fenny Stratford, near Milton Keynes, was engulfed in flames at 02:09 BST.
At the peak of the incident, 12 fire appliances from Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service were deployed to tackle the blaze at the popular venue located on Watling Street.
Thames Valley Police reported that while the exact cause of the fire remains undetermined, a 51-year-old man from Milton Keynes has been arrested and is currently in custody.
Police and Fire Service Response
Chief Superintendent Emma Baillie, commander for Milton Keynes, confirmed that no injuries were reported and that people were evacuated promptly and efficiently.
"This was a significant fire in which a large number of people had to be evacuated," she said.
"Our officers have arrested a man in connection with this incident. He remains in custody at this time, while we carry out ongoing inquiries.
"At this time it would be too early to comment on any particular motivation for this incident and we would respectfully ask for people not to speculate."
Eyewitness Account from Molly Firman
Molly Firman, an eyewitness, described the fire as it unfolded at the crowded venue.
"It just didn't seem real in the moment," she said. "Am I dreaming this? Is it actually happening? Before you knew it, it was just intense."
Firman, from Clophill, called the venue her "favourite place" and said she had visited Pink Punters numerous times.
She was out with friends when she noticed the flames.
"We arrived just before 10 o'clock and it was just a normal night - drinks, music, no problems - and then just after two in the morning, me and my girls were outside the cocktail bar... and the fire alarm was going off.
"Out of nowhere all staff and security were screaming, 'you need to get out now'... then [we were] all out on to the road and from the road looking over it felt like in minutes - it wasn't a small fire - but that fire expanded greatly."
She described the experience as "surreal," with thousands of people watching from the roadside.
"It's truly devastating to say the least," said Firman.
"We really hope it will be back. When I think of going on a night out, that's pretty much the only place I will think of going. If Pink's was not to be here anymore, I think it would affect a lot of people."
Ongoing Fire Service Operations and Road Closures
The fire service stated that crews were expected to remain at the scene for a "considerable amount of time" and had been able to reduce the number of appliances as they worked to dampen down hotspots.
Police indicated that road closures in the area would remain in place for some time.
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