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| Residents moved after chapel fire | Residents moved after chapel fire |
| (2 days later) | |
| Fire crews worked through the night to deal with a blaze in a disused landmark chapel in Aberystwyth. | |
| A dozen residents were moved from homes backing onto the Tabernacle in Mill Street as a precaution on Friday. | |
| The Victorian building, which has been empty for more than five years, was damaged over four floors by the fire and remains unstable, police said. | The Victorian building, which has been empty for more than five years, was damaged over four floors by the fire and remains unstable, police said. |
| An aerial platform was used to help six fire crews bring the fire under control. It broke out about 2355 BST. | An aerial platform was used to help six fire crews bring the fire under control. It broke out about 2355 BST. |
| Dyfed-Powys Police said eight homes in Powell Street were among those evacuated. | Dyfed-Powys Police said eight homes in Powell Street were among those evacuated. |
| Residents living next door to the chapel have not been allowed to return as the building is unstable. | Residents living next door to the chapel have not been allowed to return as the building is unstable. |
| There was smoke and blue flashing lights everywhere Resident Geoffrey Ralphs | There was smoke and blue flashing lights everywhere Resident Geoffrey Ralphs |
| Mill Street, Powell Street and Bridge Street were closed and are likely to remain so for the next few hours. | Mill Street, Powell Street and Bridge Street were closed and are likely to remain so for the next few hours. |
| Geoffrey Ralphs lives near the chapel, but he was not evacuated by the emergency services. | Geoffrey Ralphs lives near the chapel, but he was not evacuated by the emergency services. |
| "There was smoke and blue flashing lights everywhere," said Mr Ralphs. | "There was smoke and blue flashing lights everywhere," said Mr Ralphs. |
| "Fortunately we were not evacuated, but several homes at the rear of the chapel in streets like Powell Street were. | "Fortunately we were not evacuated, but several homes at the rear of the chapel in streets like Powell Street were. |
| "The road was also closed soon after the fire started." | "The road was also closed soon after the fire started." |
| Chris Fitzpatrick also witnessed the fire service fighting the blaze. He was not evacuated from his home either. | Chris Fitzpatrick also witnessed the fire service fighting the blaze. He was not evacuated from his home either. |
| He said: "I noticed the fire at about 1am when I saw spotted the reflections of blue flashing lights. | He said: "I noticed the fire at about 1am when I saw spotted the reflections of blue flashing lights. |
| "There must have been about five fire engines here and sparks and flames were going through the roof of the chapel. | "There must have been about five fire engines here and sparks and flames were going through the roof of the chapel. |
| "The roof was ablaze and there was a lot of smoke." | "The roof was ablaze and there was a lot of smoke." |
| The chapel was thought to have been one of the largest in the town | The chapel was thought to have been one of the largest in the town |
| Mid and West Wales Fire Service said they still have some firefighters at the scene. | Mid and West Wales Fire Service said they still have some firefighters at the scene. |
| The fire was brought under control by 0210 BST and the building is being made secure. | The fire was brought under control by 0210 BST and the building is being made secure. |
| Town councillor Trevor Shaftoe thanked the emergency services for the way they managed to find alternative accommodation for the residents. | Town councillor Trevor Shaftoe thanked the emergency services for the way they managed to find alternative accommodation for the residents. |
| "Three of them had to be put up in B&B accommodation and the remainder with relatives and friends," he said. | "Three of them had to be put up in B&B accommodation and the remainder with relatives and friends," he said. |
| "It's a shame what's happened to the building, which will be a loss to the town but I understand the walls are structurally sound." | "It's a shame what's happened to the building, which will be a loss to the town but I understand the walls are structurally sound." |
| The Calvinistic chapel dates from 1880, and was the fourth building on the site as congregations expanded with the methodist revival. | |
| It closed in November 2002 because of the cost of the building's upkeep to the congregation of 70. | It closed in November 2002 because of the cost of the building's upkeep to the congregation of 70. |