Three fire engines rush to Ponds Forge as emergency crews enter building
Three fire engines were called to an incident outside Ponds Forge International Sports Centre this morning (January 18).
Emergency services were seen responding to the scene just after 9.20am, with crews remaining at the venue at the time of writing.
Three fire engines attended - one from Central Fire Station and two from Parkway.
Firefighters were spotted entering the building, while marshals instructed members of the public to move away from the area as a precaution.
Witnesses reported seeing firefighters moving in and out of the complex as crews assessed the situation inside.
Speaking to The Star, South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue confirmed the emergency response was triggered by a fire alarm activation inside the building.
A spokesperson said:
“The alarm was caused by smoke from a battery panel located inside a cupboard.
“Crews isolated the panel and remain on site to cool and monitor the unit as a precaution.”
The incident comes just days before the planned reopening of the Ponds Forge Leisure Pool, which has been closed since October 4 after burst pipes forced the pool to be drained.
The pool is well known for its Surf City wave machine and Lazy River current, and its closure has affected thousands of regular users.
Everyone Active, which manages the venue, has previously said the pool is due to reopen on Monday, January 19.
The pool since opened back up, with witnesses confirming they had been let back inside the building.