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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Arson suspected in factory blaze | Arson suspected in factory blaze |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| A massive blaze which destroyed a listed factory building in Walsall is being blamed on arsonists. | A massive blaze which destroyed a listed factory building in Walsall is being blamed on arsonists. |
| Up to 150 firefighters tackled the fire, which broke out at Shannons Mill, George Street, on Friday night. | Up to 150 firefighters tackled the fire, which broke out at Shannons Mill, George Street, on Friday night. |
| The mill is unoccupied but is the site of a multi-million pound regeneration scheme. At least 60% of the building collapsed, the fire service said. | The mill is unoccupied but is the site of a multi-million pound regeneration scheme. At least 60% of the building collapsed, the fire service said. |
| Police said the fire was being treated as arson and they were keen to trace up to four teenage boys seen in the area. | Police said the fire was being treated as arson and they were keen to trace up to four teenage boys seen in the area. |
| The white youths were seen in the area several times between 1945 BST and 2300 BST. | The white youths were seen in the area several times between 1945 BST and 2300 BST. |
| Burning embers | Burning embers |
| A spokesman for the West Midlands Fire Service said the fire was the largest it had tackled in the past 25 years. | |
| The blaze is now under control but it could take two days to completely extinguish it, the fire service said. | The blaze is now under control but it could take two days to completely extinguish it, the fire service said. |
| Nearby residents were advised to keep all doors and windows shut and to stay away from the scene. | Nearby residents were advised to keep all doors and windows shut and to stay away from the scene. |
| Firefighters were withdrawn to a safer distance as burning embers fell on adjacent properties. | Firefighters were withdrawn to a safer distance as burning embers fell on adjacent properties. |
| One was taken to hospital with a wrist injury but the ambulance service said there were no other casualties. | One was taken to hospital with a wrist injury but the ambulance service said there were no other casualties. |
| Roads closed | Roads closed |
| There are also a number of gas cylinders at the site and extra water jets have been brought in to aid attempts to bring the fire under control and to protect surrounding buildings. | There are also a number of gas cylinders at the site and extra water jets have been brought in to aid attempts to bring the fire under control and to protect surrounding buildings. |
| The factory was not occupied but is at the centre of a major development which will see apartments and designer stores built on the site. | The factory was not occupied but is at the centre of a major development which will see apartments and designer stores built on the site. |
| A number of roads have been closed while the 24-hour Asda store on George Street was evacuated during the night and will remain closed on Saturday. | A number of roads have been closed while the 24-hour Asda store on George Street was evacuated during the night and will remain closed on Saturday. |
| Walsall market will also be closed. | Walsall market will also be closed. |