St Joseph’s Orphanage fire sees crews shut down Preston street

The scene of the fire at St Joseph's on Monday night — The scene of the fire at St Joseph’s on Monday night

An investigation is underway after a fire at a derelict and recognisable Preston building.

Crews were called to St Joseph’s Orphanage at Mount Street in Preston at around 9.47pm last night (4 November). Six fire engines attended and used four jets to bring the fire under control by 2am.

Mount Street was closed through the night and emergency services are expected to remain at the scene. The cause of the fire at St Joseph’s, which was also the site of high profile fires in 2023 and 2022, is now under investigation.

Blog Preston understands that no arrests have been made in connection with the fire.

A spokesperson for Lancashire Fire & Rescue Service said: “Six fire engines from Preston, Fulwood, Bamber Bridge, Chorley, Leyland and Penwortham as well as two aerial ladder platforms from Blackpool and Preston attended a fire in a derelict building on Mount Street, Preston.

“Firefighters used four jets to bring the fire under control. By 2:00am, the fire has been reduced to one fire engine and two ALPs.

“Mount Street will remain closed throughout the night and firefighters will remain at the scene into the morning. No injuries have been reported and the cause of the fire is under investigation.”

St Joseph’s Orphanage opened in Preston in 1872. The orphanage was run by the Sisters of Charity our Lady Mother of Mercy and a chapel was added in 1910.

By 1988, the orphanage had closed and the building had been converted into a care home, which operated until 2003.

The building has been neglected ever since. In 2020, proposals were approved to convert the majority of the site into flats and townhouses.

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