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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Supermarket gutted by huge fire | Supermarket gutted by huge fire |
| (about 8 hours later) | |
| A Waitrose supermarket in Surrey has been destroyed in a fire. | A Waitrose supermarket in Surrey has been destroyed in a fire. |
| People living near the store on High Street in Banstead were made to leave their homes, and surrounding roads were closed, police said. | |
| More than 50 firefighters tackled the blaze, which broke out on the roof of the supermarket at about 2045 GMT. | More than 50 firefighters tackled the blaze, which broke out on the roof of the supermarket at about 2045 GMT. |
| Assistant chief fire officer Peter Guest described the building as a "total loss". Police are treating the fire as "potentially suspicious". | Assistant chief fire officer Peter Guest described the building as a "total loss". Police are treating the fire as "potentially suspicious". |
| "The fire grew very rapidly and there was a large explosion and the fire then grew in intensity and scale to such a point that the building would be impossible to save," Mr Guest said. | "The fire grew very rapidly and there was a large explosion and the fire then grew in intensity and scale to such a point that the building would be impossible to save," Mr Guest said. |
| "The crews have worked extremely hard... to protect the surrounding buildings to ensure that this fire didn't spread further, but I'm afraid the building here is a total loss." | "The crews have worked extremely hard... to protect the surrounding buildings to ensure that this fire didn't spread further, but I'm afraid the building here is a total loss." |
| 'Totally destroyed' | |
| Mr Guest added that no-one had been injured in what was a serious incident. | Mr Guest added that no-one had been injured in what was a serious incident. |
| The alarm was raised after a CCTV operator noticed smoke coming from the roof. | |
| A Surrey Police spokeswoman said: "The fire has progressed rapidly through the store which is almost totally destroyed. | A Surrey Police spokeswoman said: "The fire has progressed rapidly through the store which is almost totally destroyed. |
| "People are asked to avoid the High Street area if at all possible." | "People are asked to avoid the High Street area if at all possible." |
| An investigation is taking place into the cause of the fire, which was still burning and being tackled by firefighters on Saturday morning. | |
| A statement from Waitrose said damage to the building had been extensive but the store would be rebuilt. | |
| "We have made available a distress fund for local residents and staff affected, and regret any inconvenience caused to them as well as the wider community and traders," it added. | |
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| Assistant chief fire officer Peter Guest says the building is 'a total loss' | Assistant chief fire officer Peter Guest says the building is 'a total loss' |