Church Street fire road closures back in place as demolition work begins

The scene in Church Street on Tuesday evening. Road closures have been put back in place during Thursday evening Pic: Blog Preston

Road closures have been put back in place along Church Street as firefighters return to work at the site of a major fire on Tuesday evening.

Preston Police have closed Church Street on the stretch between Guild Row, Church Row and Manchester Road.

Traffic and pedestrians are being diverted away from the scene as Blog Preston understands ‘demolition and site safety work’ is taking place.

Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service had left the scene during Wednesday afternoon, 24-hours after the fire began, but were called back during Thursday as hotspots reignited.

The fire took place in an abandoned building between Shepherd Street and Church Street, at the rear of a block known as St Johns Row.

Aftermath of the fire at the buildings in Shepherd Street and Church Street – next door to the former Old Dog Inn Pic: Blog Preston

A statement released earlier on Thursday (14 November) evening said police were overseeing an investigation into the cause of the fire.

Police, Preston City Council and the fire service are working to ensure the property is unoccupied and all had officers, staff and crews on the scene from around 5pm on Thursday evening.

Superintendent Gary Crowe of Lancashire Police said: “This was a major fire and there was a large multi-agency response to tackle it and deal with the aftermath.

“We are working closely with Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service to investigate the cause of the fire, and that investigation is ongoing.

“Work is being done to make the site safe together with our partner agencies and also to reassure emergency services no people are present within the site.”

Preston City Council confirmed to Blog Preston earlier on Thursday they had taken enforcement action at the site within the last 12-months.

The property is within a block of land which is due to see major redevelopment into hundreds of apartments and ‘open space’ after plans were approved in June this year.

Anyone with information about the fire is asked to call police on 101 quoting log 1197 of 12 November 2024.

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