Five homes destroyed in Devon street fire
Five homes have been destroyed in a huge fire which tore through a Crediton street on 2nd February.
Around 100 firefighters tackled the blaze which had spread across five properties in Mill Street and Buller Square at arouond 1pm.
Around 25 fire engines attended from across Devon.
Crediton deputy mayor Joyce Harris, who lives nearby said: “It’s absolutely devastating. The roads were closed off and there were police and fire crews everywhere. We’re very concerned because people’s lives are at risk and they could be made homeless. The whole town is very worried about it because several families will be affected. It’s also a historic part of Crediton – the buildings are very old and it’s near the birthplace of St Boniface.”
A spokesman for Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said: “The incident is believed to have been started by a chimney fire.”
There were no injuries reported in the incident.
Police investigate Kent farm fire
Over 50 firefighters attended a huge fire in Kent on 11th January.
At its worst, 10 fire crews battled the fire which broke out in farm buildings near Staplehurst in Kent.
Local residents were asked to stay inside and keep all windows and doors shut as a huge plume of smoke spread across the area.
A spokesman for Kent Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that there were no casualties reported in the incident.
David Friday, from Fridays Limited, said that the business had been in the family for 50 years. In an interview with BBC News, he said: “A fire broke out at our Knoxbridge site near Cranbrook, Kent. Two hen houses were affected during the fire, one empty and one stocked. The Kent Fire and Rescue Services successfully controlled the fire around midday. All staff are accounted for and no injuries have been reported.”
Tragedy as 4 children die in Freckelton house fire
Four children have died after a fire broke out at their home in Freckelton in Lancashire.
The mother of the children, Michelle Smith, was rescued from the property but sadly, 4 children died after being taken to Preston Royal Infirmary. It is thought that the eldest son, Reece, 19, died trying to rescue his siblings four-year-old twins Holly and Ella Smith, and two-year-old Jordan.
Phil Cox from Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service, said officers were called to the house at around 11.20pm. He said: “As soon as the crews arrived it seemed quite a chaotic scene with a lot of people outside quite distressed. We sent in six firefighters who rescued four people and also led out one other person. We had police officers, fire officers and paramedics at the scene working on resuscitating the people brought out before they were taken to hospital.”
Detective Andy Murphy, of Lancashire Constabulary said: “We are trying to establish the cause of this fire. We are keeping an open mind at this stage as to what happened. We need to determine how many people were there and determine what happened.”
An investigation is now underway into the cause of the blaze.
2 men injured in ex-colliery explosion
Two security guards are in a serious condition in hospital after being injured in an explosion at an ex-colliery.
The explosion happened at the former Welbeck Colliery in Nottinghamshire, on the evening of Saturday 31st December.
The men suffered serious facial burns and are in a critical but stable condition at Nottingham’s Queen’s Medical Centre.
A spokesman for Nottinghamshire Police said: “It is understood that the men were working at the site as security personnel. Detectives are liaising with the site owners, UK Coal, with the fire service and the Health and Safety Executive to determine the sequence of events leading up to the incident.”
A spokeswoman for Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service added: “The fire itself was very small. The main issue was the explosion itself and the two people injured.”
An investigation is now underway to determine the exact cause of the explosion.
Norfolk Food factory destroyed in blaze
50 firefighters were called to attend a huge fire which destroyed a food factory in Norfolk on the 9th November.
The blaze broke out at Broadland Hams on the Sweet Briar Road Industrial Estate at around 2pm on Wednesday.
Pumps from Earlham, Sprowston, Carrow, Hethersett, Wroxham, Long Stratton, Wymondham, Aylsham, and Attleborough plus the aerial ladder platform from Great Yarmouth were at the scene.
Richard Herrell from Norfolk Fire and Rescue Services said: “The fire is very difficult to extinguish because the roof is constructed of sandwich panels of polystyrene, a highly combustible material associated with firefighters’ deaths in the past.”
Mr Herrel said that they had to ensure the fire did not spread to the factory’s refrigeration site as it contained highly explosive gases.
Louise Hall, who works at an office block nearby said: “We are looking at it through our window. It seems to be getting worse and there’s thick black smoke coming out of it. The whole side of the building seems to be on fire, and it’s bellowing out flames.”
Everyone was evacuated safely but one member of staff was treated for smoke inhalation.