FIREFIGHTERS warned today that lives could have been lost when flames ripped through a former York community centre following a suspected arson attack.

Crews risked their lives in the blaze at the derelict Chapelfields Community Centre in, Bramham Avenue, Acomb, amid fears its large roof could fall in.

The building - now owned by developers and soon to be demolished for housing - closed as a council-run community base in mid-February.

Up to 40 firefighters attended the fire at about 3.30pm yesterday. Nobody was injured.

Firefighter Steve Cluderay said he was 95 per cent certain the cause was arson. "We are pretty sure local youths or children started a fire using rubbish and ran off."

He rapped the culprits for putting lives in jeopardy and diverting resources from possible life-threatening calls.

"We know how to take care of ourselves, but there were dangers of a sudden roof collapse and explosions.

"The people behind this may regard it as a prank, but there are consequences. It would not have been the first time a firefighter had been killed or injured in such circumstances."

He said the two-storey building, made safe at about 5.30pm as roof sections were stripped, needed fully securing to prevent a repeat of the incident.

Smoke and fire damage was mainly confined inside, with flames taking hold in a back room where heat stripped wall plaster. Firefighters were ordered to stay close to the walls in case the roof fell.

As the graffiti-strewn building was derelict, a full fire investigation will not be carried out. Police attended and are now probing the blaze.

Rosie Wall, chairman of the Chapelfields Residents' Association, said it was a sad farewell for a building that had "brought a lot of people a lot of happiness" since opening in the 1960s.

She said: "It would have been nice for it to have been demolished properly."

A community house will be built on the site, which will be used to accommodate youth and community groups, as part of the housing deal.

One resident, who asked not to be named, said: "It should have been demolished years ago.

"They burn everything round here now - bus shelters, schools and phone boxes. I've lived here 30 years and the area's gone downhill."

Kate Watson, of City of York Council youth services, said developers Tees Valley Housing were due start work on Monday. She said: "The site was as secure as we could make it."

Updated: 10:52 Wednesday, March 10, 2004