Overview
- Northumbria Police say the fire was reported shortly before 11:20pm on October 30 on Heaton Gardens and is being treated as suspected arson.
- Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service sent two appliances and extinguished the blaze by 11:37pm after it began in a shed and spread to external parts of neighboring properties.
- No arrests have been reported, and officers are appealing for information and requesting CCTV, doorbell or dashcam footage under reference NP-20251030-1106.
- Media reports cite CCTV apparently showing a masked person pouring an accelerant before the display ignited, a detail not confirmed by police.
- The 19-year display by Stan Yannetta and Richy Ames raises money for local charities, hundreds attended a practice run earlier that evening, and a GoFundMe now seeks to preserve the planned donations.