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| Sudbury fire: People evacuated after major fire breaks out in historic market town | Sudbury fire: People evacuated after major fire breaks out in historic market town |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A major fire has broken out in an historic market town forcing police to evacuate the area. | A major fire has broken out in an historic market town forcing police to evacuate the area. |
| Fire crews have already rescued at least 20 people trapped in a block of flats engulfed by the fire. | Fire crews have already rescued at least 20 people trapped in a block of flats engulfed by the fire. |
| More than 75 firefighters are tackling the blaze in Market Hill, Sudbury, which began at about 6.25pm this evening. | More than 75 firefighters are tackling the blaze in Market Hill, Sudbury, which began at about 6.25pm this evening. |
| A Suffolk Police spokesman said: "Shortly after 7pm, police began a full-scale evacuation of the immediate area as the fire spread. | A Suffolk Police spokesman said: "Shortly after 7pm, police began a full-scale evacuation of the immediate area as the fire spread. |
| "As of 7.30pm up to 20 people had been moved from their homes. | "As of 7.30pm up to 20 people had been moved from their homes. |
| “Police have also begun contacting business keyholders where possible. | “Police have also begun contacting business keyholders where possible. |
| "The fire service is believed to have 15 appliances at the scene in a bid to get the blaze under control. | "The fire service is believed to have 15 appliances at the scene in a bid to get the blaze under control. |
| "The cause of the fire is currently unknown, with the priority being public safety, and arrangements being made to house those who have been evacuated." | "The cause of the fire is currently unknown, with the priority being public safety, and arrangements being made to house those who have been evacuated." |
| The fire was brought under control at around 10.30pm. | |
| Police said Friars Street will remain closed between Station Road and the market place on Monday. | |
| Luke Cresswell, a teaching assistant and local councillor, said: "I saw around 20 people being evacuated. They were given covers and looked really upset. | Luke Cresswell, a teaching assistant and local councillor, said: "I saw around 20 people being evacuated. They were given covers and looked really upset. |
| "There were families including children. They looked really shaken up, some of them were crying. | "There were families including children. They looked really shaken up, some of them were crying. |
| “A couple of the young girls only looked around five or six years-old and were very upset. | “A couple of the young girls only looked around five or six years-old and were very upset. |
| "They were given blankets and taken to the side by an ambulance where they were being looked after." | "They were given blankets and taken to the side by an ambulance where they were being looked after." |
| Cllr Cresswell, 27, said: "You could see them come out with firemen and women. | Cllr Cresswell, 27, said: "You could see them come out with firemen and women. |
| "The fire is huge and proper black. I kept thinking it had died down but it flared up again. The fire is literally right in the middle of the town centre." | "The fire is huge and proper black. I kept thinking it had died down but it flared up again. The fire is literally right in the middle of the town centre." |
| He said it looked as though the fire had started in a nail shop and spread to a charity shop and bank. All these premises have flats above them. | He said it looked as though the fire had started in a nail shop and spread to a charity shop and bank. All these premises have flats above them. |
| Sarah Pheby, an administrator who lives across the road from where the fire broke out, said: "I could feel the heat of the flames on my face when I looked at it through the window, and that was through my double glazing. | Sarah Pheby, an administrator who lives across the road from where the fire broke out, said: "I could feel the heat of the flames on my face when I looked at it through the window, and that was through my double glazing. |
| "The first floor of the building has collapsed, it is just a shell now. The roof has gone." | "The first floor of the building has collapsed, it is just a shell now. The roof has gone." |
| Three people have been taken to hospital for treatment. | Three people have been taken to hospital for treatment. |
| East of England Ambulance Service said the patients, a man in his 50s, a woman in her 40s and a woman in her 70s, had minor burns and were suffering smoke inhalation. | East of England Ambulance Service said the patients, a man in his 50s, a woman in her 40s and a woman in her 70s, had minor burns and were suffering smoke inhalation. |
| They have been taken to West Suffolk Hospital, Bury St Edmunds, while another patient was treated at the scene. | They have been taken to West Suffolk Hospital, Bury St Edmunds, while another patient was treated at the scene. |