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Man injured during police HQ fire 'Substantial damage' of blaze HQ
(about 1 hour later)
A worker has been slightly injured after a fire at North Wales Police's headquarters in Colwyn Bay. North Wales Police say parts of its headquarters in Colwyn Bay have suffered "substantial damage" in a fire which broke out in the roof.
The blaze broke out in the roof of the building shortly after 1130 BST and 150 police and civilian staff were ordered to leave. One contractor working at the building, which is currently being refurbished, was treated for smoke inhalation after the fire which began at 1130 BST.
Firefighters used two aerial platforms to fight the blaze, which has been brought under control. One hundred and fifty police, civilian staff and contractors were ordered to leave while the blaze was put out.
A joint investigation by the fire service and North Wales Police into the cause of the blaze is under way. A joint investigation with the fire service is under way.
The fire was extinguished at 1447 BST, the fire service said. Two appliances from Colwyn Bay and Abergele remain at the scene. Firefighters used two aerial platforms to fight the blaze and crews from Abergele, Conwy, Llandudno and Colwyn Bay were involved.
The injured worker who was treated at the scene was involved in the refurbishment of the premises. People in the Min y Don area of Old Colwyn were urged to keep their windows closed because of the smoke.
'Largely unaffected'
The blaze was finally put out at 1447 BST, but two fire appliances remain at the scene.
The injured worker was involved in the refurbishment of the premises.
Contractors had been working on the roof during the morning.Contractors had been working on the roof during the morning.
North Wales Police said all its staff had been accounted for and its operational work had not been affected by the blaze. Chief Constable Richard Brunstrom who was working out of the force area on Tuesday said he was pleased everyone was evacuated safely.
Fire crews from Abergele, Conwy, Llandudno and Colwyn Bay dealt with the incident. He said he was in close contact with Assistant Chief Constable Ian Shannon who is in charge.
At one point people in the Min y Don area of Old Colwyn were urged to keep their windows closed due to the smoke. Mr Brunstrom said policing "has largely been unaffected by the fire".
The fire at North Wales Police HQ Your pictures of the fireThe fire at North Wales Police HQ Your pictures of the fire
Retired policeman David Curtis, 61, was working in the garden of St John's Church, some half a mile away, when he saw the plumes of smoke from the building. The force said damage to parts of the HQ is "substantial" and most of the older parts will be out of action "for a number of weeks".
He climbed the church tower to take photographs of the blaze. The first task will be to make the roof from which smoke and flames billowed watertight.
He said: "We could see flames on the roof and then the wind shifted and you couldn't quite see because of the smoke. A force spokesperson said an inspection of the roof was ongoing and the Health and Safety Executive has been informed.
Security at the building will be increased as a matter of course, he added.
Plans are also being made to relocated people working in the building which opened in 1974.
'Very alarming'
ACC Ian Shannon said: "North Wales Police continues to function and we continue to provide a full policing service to the people of north Wales."
Retired policeman David Curtis, 61, was working in the garden of St John's Church, some half a mile away, described seeing the plumes of smoke.
"We could see flames on the roof and then the wind shifted and you couldn't quite see because of the smoke.
"It was very alarming. I used to work in the police headquarters. I was concerned for the people who work there and for the building itself."It was very alarming. I used to work in the police headquarters. I was concerned for the people who work there and for the building itself.
"It's very sad to see it burn. I just hope it not too serious. It is an important building in Old Colwyn." Bethan Lloyd was working in the adjacent civic offices when the fire broke out.
Bethan Lloyd had been working in the adjacent civic offices when the fire broke out. "I was leaving the office to go out on a call and I saw this huge, thick, black cloud of acrid smoke, " she said.
She said: "I was leaving the office to go out on a call and I saw this huge, thick, black cloud of acrid smoke. "All I could see was flames coming from the roof."
"All I could see was flames coming from the roof.
"Police were cordoning off the area. We share the entrance road. They condoned that off and stopped traffic coming down.
"You could just see members of the police headquarters congregated on the car park area. It seemed to be carried out in an orderly fashion. It was well organised."