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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Arson suspected over mill blaze | Arson suspected over mill blaze |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| A massive blaze which destroyed a listed building in Walsall is being blamed on arsonists. | A massive blaze which destroyed a listed 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. |
| Falling embers | Falling embers |
| A spokesman for the West Midlands Fire Service said the fire was the largest it had tackled in the past 25 years. | A spokesman for the West Midlands Fire Service said the fire was the largest it had tackled in the past 25 years. |
| The Victorian mill was originally a tanners and firefighters believe it burned so quickly because years' worth of oil had seeped into the beams. | The Victorian mill was originally a tanners and firefighters believe it burned so quickly because years' worth of oil had seeped into the beams. |
| The mill was the centrepiece of a £53m regeneration project | The mill was the centrepiece of a £53m regeneration project |
| 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| Firefighters were withdrawn to a safer distance as burning embers fell on adjacent properties.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. |
| There were also a number of gas cylinders at the site and extra water jets were brought in to aid attempts to bring the fire under control and to protect surrounding buildings. | There were also a number of gas cylinders at the site and extra water jets were brought in to aid attempts to bring the fire under control and to protect surrounding buildings. |
| 'Huge shock' | 'Huge shock' |
| The mill is at the centre of a major £53m development which would see it converted into apartments and designer stores. | |
| Dominic Goold, whose Goold Estates was developing the building, said he was "devastated". | Dominic Goold, whose Goold Estates was developing the building, said he was "devastated". |
| He added: "We've been working on this scheme and bringing forward this phase of the regeneration of Walsall since 1999 and to see it go up in flames overnight, it's a huge shock." | He added: "We've been working on this scheme and bringing forward this phase of the regeneration of Walsall since 1999 and to see it go up in flames overnight, it's a huge shock." |
| A number of roads have been closed while the 24-hour Asda store on George Street was evacuated during the night and remained 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 remained closed on Saturday. |
| Walsall market was also closed. | Walsall market was also closed. |