|
From
http://www.kentonline.co.uk 19 June 2014.
Huge fire in Margate next to Sheldons pub closes High Street and Mill Lane
A three-storey building being converted into six luxury flats in
Margate High Street was gutted by flames in the early hours of this
morning.
Six fire crews fought the mystery blaze.
No one was injured but the flats, worth £720,000, were completely
destroyed after the roof collapsed and the front of the building crashed
into the road.
Above photo showing the wreckage from the fire in Margate.
Retired betting shop manager Richard Bean, 66, who lives in a flat
above Sheldon's pub next door to the blazing building, was woken by a
fireman hammering on his door at 3am.
Mr Bean said: “I had an extremely lucky escape. I would have slept
through it all.
"I was woken by banging on my door. The fireman told me to get out as
quickly as possible.
“I just had time to get dressed but I didn't have time to take
anything else with me.
Above photo showing the destroyed building.
"As I came out the front door I could see the flames shooting out of
the top of the building and debris was falling all around me. It was as
if a bomb had gone off.
"The firemen reckoned if they had been 10 minutes later in getting to
the fire they would have lost the pub, too.”
Electricity was turned off to a third of shops in the High Street as
firefighters using a high-level mobile platform poured water over the
blaze.
They had to stop while UK Power Network engineers isolated the
premises so the rest of the High Street could be reconnected to
electricity.
Firefighters have now connected a hose to the top of the Mill Street
multi-storey car park to put the fire out.
A full investigation has started into the cause of the blaze.
Kent Fire and Rescue Service Watch Manager Nick Salt from Whitstable
said: “We understand the fire started in the basement but it is too
early to say why.”
Margate crews were first on the scene at 2am and discovered the
basement and ground floor well alight.
As the flames spread, the roof and upper floors collapsed forcing
crews to withdraw for their own safety.
The building was being converted into four two-bedroom and two
one-bedroom apartments.
VIDEO WITNESS CLICK
HERE. |
