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| Man arrested over Blackpool blaze | Man arrested over Blackpool blaze |
| (5 days later) | |
| A 21-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of arson after a major fire broke out in Blackpool town centre. | A 21-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of arson after a major fire broke out in Blackpool town centre. |
| The fire started in an alley between Clifton Street and Talbot Square and badly damaged several businesses, including Yates's Wine Lodge. | The fire started in an alley between Clifton Street and Talbot Square and badly damaged several businesses, including Yates's Wine Lodge. |
| Seven people, including a baby, had to be moved from nearby properties during the fire, which was in an area full of bars and restaurants. | Seven people, including a baby, had to be moved from nearby properties during the fire, which was in an area full of bars and restaurants. |
| At its height, about 100 firefighters tackled the blaze. | At its height, about 100 firefighters tackled the blaze. |
| Three people were treated for smoke inhalation but there were no reports of any injuries. | Three people were treated for smoke inhalation but there were no reports of any injuries. |
| Fire crews were alerted shortly after the fire broke out at 0316 GMT. | Fire crews were alerted shortly after the fire broke out at 0316 GMT. |
| 'Virtually destroyed' | 'Virtually destroyed' |
| Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service spokeswoman Kathy Stacey said: "It's a very, very big fire for us in terms of its size and intensity. | Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service spokeswoman Kathy Stacey said: "It's a very, very big fire for us in terms of its size and intensity. |
| "At this stage it's too early to say what the cause is." | "At this stage it's too early to say what the cause is." |
| Chris Waters from Lancashire Fire and Rescue describes the operation at the scene | Chris Waters from Lancashire Fire and Rescue describes the operation at the scene |
| Assistant chief fire officer Peter O'Brien said: "An absolutely tragic day. | Assistant chief fire officer Peter O'Brien said: "An absolutely tragic day. |
| "What you've seen here is one of Blackpool's landmarks [Yates's Wine Lodge], a building that virtually everyone in the North West will be familiar with and it's been virtually destroyed." | "What you've seen here is one of Blackpool's landmarks [Yates's Wine Lodge], a building that virtually everyone in the North West will be familiar with and it's been virtually destroyed." |
| Yates's Wine Lodge chief executive Toby Smith said he was upset about the damage. | Yates's Wine Lodge chief executive Toby Smith said he was upset about the damage. |
| "Really gutted at the moment. Just almost not wanting to ask the question too much, 'Exactly how much damage has been done?' | "Really gutted at the moment. Just almost not wanting to ask the question too much, 'Exactly how much damage has been done?' |
| "But in the same way very determined to, you know, rebuild the site back up to its former glory." | "But in the same way very determined to, you know, rebuild the site back up to its former glory." |
| Busy weekend | Busy weekend |
| David Baker, a 28-year-old IT worker from Sheffield, was with friends in a pub a few streets away when he said they smelt smoke and went outside to investigate. | David Baker, a 28-year-old IT worker from Sheffield, was with friends in a pub a few streets away when he said they smelt smoke and went outside to investigate. |
| "You could smell the smoke inside the pub so we went outside and all the streets were filled with smoke and ash was falling from the sky. | "You could smell the smoke inside the pub so we went outside and all the streets were filled with smoke and ash was falling from the sky. |
| "We thought we would go and take a closer look and flames were coming out of the top of the building and out of the side." | "We thought we would go and take a closer look and flames were coming out of the top of the building and out of the side." |
| The fire broke out on very busy a weekend for the resort, as tens of thousands of visitors descended on the town for the Shazam! circus and performance festival. | The fire broke out on very busy a weekend for the resort, as tens of thousands of visitors descended on the town for the Shazam! circus and performance festival. |
| It is also the first weekend of the season for Blackpool Pleasure Beach. | It is also the first weekend of the season for Blackpool Pleasure Beach. |
| A spokeswoman for Blackpool Council said the town was still open for business. | A spokeswoman for Blackpool Council said the town was still open for business. |
| She said: "The fire is only affecting a small part of Blackpool, and all the Shazam! events at the Grand Theatre, Winter Gardens and Tower Circus remain unaffected, as will the street events and the pleasure beach. | She said: "The fire is only affecting a small part of Blackpool, and all the Shazam! events at the Grand Theatre, Winter Gardens and Tower Circus remain unaffected, as will the street events and the pleasure beach. |
| "Yesterday was the first day of the festival, which was incredibly popular, and there is no reason for anyone not to come to Blackpool to enjoy themselves today." | "Yesterday was the first day of the festival, which was incredibly popular, and there is no reason for anyone not to come to Blackpool to enjoy themselves today." |