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| Man arrested over Blackpool blaze | Man arrested over Blackpool blaze |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A man has been arrested on suspicion of arson after a major fire broke out in Blackpool town centre. | A man has been arrested on suspicion of arson after a major fire broke out in Blackpool town centre. |
| The blaze, which started in Clifton Street opposite the north pier, has damaged several businesses in Talbot Square, including Yates's Wine Lodge. | The blaze, which started in Clifton Street opposite the north pier, has damaged several businesses in Talbot Square, including Yates's Wine Lodge. |
| Lancashire police said the area, which is full of bars and restaurants, was well alight but the flames had been brought under control. | Lancashire police said the area, which is full of bars and restaurants, was well alight but the flames had been brought under control. |
| A 21-year-old man has been arrested and will be questioned by police later. | A 21-year-old man has been arrested and will be questioned by police later. |
| Seven people, including a baby, had to be moved from nearby properties during the fire and were being looked after by council staff. | Seven people, including a baby, had to be moved from nearby properties during the fire and were being looked after by council staff. |
| Smoke and ash | |
| Three people have been treated for smoke inhalation but there were no reports of any serious injuries. | Three people have been treated for smoke inhalation but there were no reports of any serious injuries. |
| Fire crews were alerted shortly after the fire broke out in the seaside town at 0316 GMT. | |
| At its height, about 100 firefighters using aerial ladders were tackling the blaze, which spread to the roof of the building. | |
| David Baker took this video of the Blackpool fire and sent it to the BBC | |
| A witness said the area was full of smoke and ash. | A witness said the area was full of smoke and ash. |
| 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. It's very rare that we would have a fire involving that number of pumps. | 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. It's very rare that we would have a fire involving that number of pumps. |
| "We don't think there was anybody inside but as a precaution the Blackpool emergency planning team from the council evacuated seven people, including a young baby." | "We don't think there was anybody inside but as a precaution the Blackpool emergency planning team from the council evacuated seven people, including a young baby." |
| She added: "At this stage it's too early to say what the cause is." | She added: "At this stage it's too early to say what the cause is." |
| Busy weekend | |
| David Baker was with friends in a pub a few streets away when he said they smelt smoke and went outside to investigate. | David Baker 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," he said. | "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," he said. |
| The 28-year-old IT worker from Sheffield managed to film the fire on his mobile phone. | The 28-year-old IT worker from Sheffield managed to film the fire on his mobile phone. |
| "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. |
| "There were quite a few people watching and cars had stopped in the street but you can't get anywhere near it now. | "There were quite a few people watching and cars had stopped in the street but you can't get anywhere near it now. |
| "There are fire engines everywhere and the fire hoses are running streets away from where the fire is." | "There are fire engines everywhere and the fire hoses are running streets away from where the fire is." |
| 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." |
| Are you in the area? You can send us your experiences using the form below: | Are you in the area? You can send us your experiences using the form below: |
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