Residents trapped as fire breaks out in town-centre flats

»» MULTIPLE residents were trapped by a fire which broke out at a block of flats in the centre of St Austell in the early hours.

The fire began at around 12.30am on Friday, March 22, in in a building containing 37 flats in Trinity Street.

According to the Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service multiple callers reported smoke blowing out from the building and said people were still inside.

It prompted a sizeable emergency service response, with police officers and paramedics joining firefighters at the scene.

Just after 4am the Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service said everyone inside the building had been accounted for and the numerous fire engines deployed to the incident were beginning to leave the scene.

The cause of the blaze is not yet known and an investigation is now taking place.

There are currently no details regarding any injuries.

The fires service said: “At 12.36am fire control received the first of multiple 999 calls to a fire at a block of 37 flats in St Austell town centre.

“Callers stated multiple people were inside the building and smoke was issuing from the building. Three appliances were initially mobilised, from Mevagissey, St Dennis and Fowey.

“Due to the number of calls received and multiple persons reported, a fourth pump was mobilised from Lostwithiel.

“A station manager and group manager were also mobilised along with an incident command unit from Launceston and operational support unit from St Austell.

“On the arrival of the station manager further assistance was requested in the form of an additional two appliances from St Austell and Bodmin and an additional incident command unit from St Just, along with an additional station manager and group manager”.

A 4.10am update confirmed all the occupants of the flats had been accounted for and fire crews were starting to leave.