Market blaze drama
FIREFIGHTERS battled a blaze at Rawtenstall Market which caused gridlock in the town centre.
Crews were called to the veg stall near to Northern Whisper Tap Room, off Newchurch Road, shortly after 3.20pm on Wednesday, July 18.
Police closed Newchurch Road from the St Mary’s Way junction.
Becky Botterill, of Complete Care Services, said: “We saw lots of smoke and looked up and could tell the market was on fire. The fire service did a really good job and acted very quickly.
“It did damage to the stall, they had to pull it apart and it was giving off a lot of smoke so they had to divert the traffic. It was quite thick at one point.”
Denise Ward, of Tufties hair salon, said the fire was causing major disruption. She said: “The flames were lapping underneath next to Northern Whisper. One of the customers came in and told me and I walked out and had a look. It’s just up the road and it was quite dramatic.”
Tony Winder, from Antony and Patricia Hair Salon, said: “The fire was very well controlled. The police closed off the road so the firemen could get on with their job. The traffic has been horrendous - it gridlocked the town centre.”
Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service crews used jets, hose reels and portable fans to put out the blaze at the 4m by 10m wooden cabin.
They said no injuries were reported and no damage caused to other stalls and cabins on the market. A spokesperson said an investigation will try to establish the cause of the blaze.