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Derry fire: 50 firefighters tackle Poundstretcher store blaze | |
(35 minutes later) | |
About 50 firefighters have been dealing with a blaze at a Poundstretcher store in Londonderry. | About 50 firefighters have been dealing with a blaze at a Poundstretcher store in Londonderry. |
The Fire and Rescue Service was alerted around 01:30 BST on Thursday after a fire alarm went off at the shop at Bishop Street. | The Fire and Rescue Service was alerted around 01:30 BST on Thursday after a fire alarm went off at the shop at Bishop Street. |
It's understood 100 gas canisters were inside the building at the time and exploded. | It's understood 100 gas canisters were inside the building at the time and exploded. |
There are no reports of any injuries. | There are no reports of any injuries. |
When crews arrived the fire was well developed on the ground floor. | When crews arrived the fire was well developed on the ground floor. |
The fire service said officers had stopped the blaze spreading to premises on either side of the building. | The fire service said officers had stopped the blaze spreading to premises on either side of the building. |
There are no reports of any injuries. | There are no reports of any injuries. |
Group commander Colm McGuigan told BBC Radio Foyle that "substantial damage" has been caused to the building. | Group commander Colm McGuigan told BBC Radio Foyle that "substantial damage" has been caused to the building. |
"One fire crew attended to a fire that looked harmless at first," said Mr McGuigan. | "One fire crew attended to a fire that looked harmless at first," said Mr McGuigan. |
"But a fully developed fire was going on behind the shutters of the shop. | "But a fully developed fire was going on behind the shutters of the shop. |
"There were eight crews at the scene at one time, then three other crews arrived. | "There were eight crews at the scene at one time, then three other crews arrived. |
"This is a four-storey building and our main focus was to make sure that this fire didn't spread. | "This is a four-storey building and our main focus was to make sure that this fire didn't spread. |
"We don't know how exactly it happened. An investigation will start. | "We don't know how exactly it happened. An investigation will start. |
"The Poundstretcher store has suffered substantial damage along with a warehouse on Magazine Street. | "The Poundstretcher store has suffered substantial damage along with a warehouse on Magazine Street. |
"Gas canisters and barbeque coals were exploding, popping and burning for hours." | "Gas canisters and barbeque coals were exploding, popping and burning for hours." |
The fire service said they will be in the Bishop Street area for several hours on Thursday. | The fire service said they will be in the Bishop Street area for several hours on Thursday. |
Derry city centre manager Jim Roddy said about 15 people worked at the Poundstretcher store. | Derry city centre manager Jim Roddy said about 15 people worked at the Poundstretcher store. |
"They are very upset and distraught," Mr Roddy told BBC Radio Foyle. | "They are very upset and distraught," Mr Roddy told BBC Radio Foyle. |
"Some of them were outside the building when it was on fire this morning and they were just watching their workplace disappear. | "Some of them were outside the building when it was on fire this morning and they were just watching their workplace disappear. |
"We have to pay tribute to the fire service. We could have lost a lot more businesses here. We hope the city centre gets back to normal later." | "We have to pay tribute to the fire service. We could have lost a lot more businesses here. We hope the city centre gets back to normal later." |