This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2yjpedr88o
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Dorchester: Cafe partially collapses as fire engulfs building | |
| (2 months later) | |
| Drone footage showed the damage to the cafe | Drone footage showed the damage to the cafe |
| About 50 firefighters have tackled a fire at a cafe in Dorchester which has caused the building to partially collapse. | About 50 firefighters have tackled a fire at a cafe in Dorchester which has caused the building to partially collapse. |
| The fire broke out at The Gorge Cafe in South Street shortly after 03:30 GMT. | The fire broke out at The Gorge Cafe in South Street shortly after 03:30 GMT. |
| The blaze had also spread into the roof spaces of neighbouring properties, Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service said. | The blaze had also spread into the roof spaces of neighbouring properties, Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service said. |
| No injuries have been reported, but a number of local residents were moved to a safe place and those living nearby urged to keep windows and doors closed in the early hours due to the large amount of smoke. | No injuries have been reported, but a number of local residents were moved to a safe place and those living nearby urged to keep windows and doors closed in the early hours due to the large amount of smoke. |
| Fire engulfed the building in the early hours | Fire engulfed the building in the early hours |
| The fire swept through cafe in South Street and spread to neighbouring buildings | The fire swept through cafe in South Street and spread to neighbouring buildings |
| The fire service said electricity supplies had been cut to South Street and parts of Trinity Street which both remain closed. | The fire service said electricity supplies had been cut to South Street and parts of Trinity Street which both remain closed. |
| A spokesperson said: "There is also an impact on water pressure, so we are using water carriers to try to minimise this. | A spokesperson said: "There is also an impact on water pressure, so we are using water carriers to try to minimise this. |
| "We expect this incident to affect the town centre for some hours, and apologise for the inconvenience caused." | "We expect this incident to affect the town centre for some hours, and apologise for the inconvenience caused." |
| The cause of the fire is not yet known but an investigation will be carried out when it is safe to do so, the fire service added. | The cause of the fire is not yet known but an investigation will be carried out when it is safe to do so, the fire service added. |
| The cafe on South Street has partially collapsed amid the blaze | The cafe on South Street has partially collapsed amid the blaze |
| The building has a stone plaque on its front wall in the centre of the first floor honouring Thomas Hardy. | The building has a stone plaque on its front wall in the centre of the first floor honouring Thomas Hardy. |
| It stated the novelist and poet trained at the building as an apprentice architect to John Hicks between 1856-1862. | It stated the novelist and poet trained at the building as an apprentice architect to John Hicks between 1856-1862. |
| The Thomas Hardy Society said it was "shocked and saddened" after hearing of the fire. | The Thomas Hardy Society said it was "shocked and saddened" after hearing of the fire. |
| Hardy designed and built his home Max Gate, just south of the town, and lived there from 1885 until his death in 1928. | Hardy designed and built his home Max Gate, just south of the town, and lived there from 1885 until his death in 1928. |
| It is not yet known if the plaque survived the fire and the building's collapse. | It is not yet known if the plaque survived the fire and the building's collapse. |
| The stone plaque was inserted in the wall on the first floor of the cafe | The stone plaque was inserted in the wall on the first floor of the cafe |
| You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X, or Instagram. | |