Investigation into suspicious fire at Flintshire Social Club
A fire at a former social club in Flintshire which broke out in the early hours of 4th February may have been started deliberately.
Over 100 people were evacuated from their homes as flames and smoke tore through the building on Shotton Lane, Shotton.
North Wales Police are treating the fire as suspicious and are awaiting results from forensic tests to determine the exact cause of the blaze.
DCI Graham Talbot, of North Wales Police said: “The site continues to be secured as a crime scene by police. A structural engineer has assessed the building over the weekend and it is unsafe for anyone to enter. Once the site is safe to enter further forensic examination will be carried out. I am, therefore, unable to establish at this time whether deliberate ignition was the cause. However, it is suspected at this stage and the investigation is being treated as such.”
Flintshire Muslim Cultural Society was to buy the property and turn it into a multi-cultural centre – a decision which was strongly apposed by the right-wing English Defence League.
Toddler praised for alerting parent to fire
Firefighters have moved swiftly to commend a three-year-old girl who helped to prevent “serious consequences” after a fire ripped through a garden shed next to her house in Droitwich, Worcestershire last Friday.
Megan Key was playing at the time, when she noticed that flames were coming from the outdoor structure towards the house.
She then told her mother, Susan, about a noise coming from the conservatory. Once Susan saw the flames she managed to get them both out of the house safely and clear from the danger.
The fire brigade were called and they managed to tackle the fire without anyone getting injured.
Watch Commander for Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service, Craig Newman, said:
“Thanks to this little girl, we were at the scene very quickly and the fire was under control within around 20 minutes.
“The shed was completely destroyed and there was also damage to both houses either side of it.
“We really feel that this fire had the potential to be far more serious than it was, especially as there was a gas cylinder nearby which could easily have caught fire and exploded.
“The family can be very proud of their young daughter.”
Former Blackburn hotel suffers further fire damage
It has been reported this week that a former hotel in Blackburn has been badly damaged by fire for the second time in a year.
The Bear Hotel in Craven’s Brow, Lower Darwen, was expected to be turned into a care home before the first blaze in March 2010 and now its future is uncertain after this latest incident which was reported around 10pm on Sunday night.
Fire has torn through the building with flames said to have been seen coming from the roof and so the road was closed until the next day as firefighters fought to bring the risky situation under control.
The fire damaged the main part of the accommodation block.
An inquiry is now being carried out by the fire service and the police into what started this latest blaze.
Future plans for the former hotel have been put on hold for the time being.
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Electrical fault sparks fire in Bolton shop
It has been confirmed that a blaze at a Bargain Booze store in Bolton, Lancashire, at the weekend was started in an electrical unit.
Fire crews were alerted to the fire at the store in Halliwell Road around 8.30pm on Saturday evening.
The firefighters, who had been sent on behalf of Bolton Central station, had to tackle the blaze, which had originated from the basement of the building.
Thermal imaging cameras and other equipment was used to assess the fire and stop it from spreading further.
The firefighters managed to prevent the flames from reaching the shop level, although the shop had to close due to the amount of smoke present in the premises.
In addition to this, the area surrounding the Bargain Booze store was cordoned off during Sunday as a precaution.
The source of the fire was confirmed by engineers from Electricity North West who investigated the scene and conducted repairs to the damaged unit.
Crew Commander Carl Haslam said:
“We isolated the internal electricity supply but because the external supply was affected, we had to wait for Electricity North West to come so the shop was closed because of the smoke.”