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Fire closes Exmouth town centre Parade hit by fire remains closed
(about 6 hours later)
Part of a town centre in Devon is expected to remain shut for a number of hours as crews tackle a fire which has spread from a shop to other properties. Part of Exmouth town centre in Devon is to remain shut overnight and for most of Friday following a fire in a shop which spread to other properties.
Twenty-one fire crews from across mid and east Devon are fighting the fire on the Parade in Exmouth. At one point more than 100 firefighters and 21 appliances were working to put out flames on buildings in the Parade.
It is thought to have started in a store room at the Bargains Galore shop just before 1300 GMT. The fire, now under control, is thought to have started just before 1300 GMT in a store room at Bargains Galore.
The fire services has issued a minor asbestos alert but said there was no danger to the public or fire crews. Most of the area previously cordoned off has reopened but the Parade is set to remain closed until Friday evening.
Windows shut No-one was injured in the fire but it caused severe problems when it spread to the Conservative Club on one side, a sports club on the other side and to a number of flats behind.
The area around the shops has been cordoned off and homes in the vicinity have been evacuated. Residents from three of the flats had to arrange alternative accommodation for the night because of damage caused to their homes.
Residents in other properties have been asked to keep windows shut. Earlier the fire services issued a minor asbestos alert but said there was no danger to the public or fire crews.
Exmouth town centre is expected to remain shut for a number of hours
A spokeswoman for Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said that the fire was now under control but added that Exmouth town centre was expected to remain closed to the public for a number of hours.
The fire, which is thought to have started in a store room, has spread to the Conservative Club on one side, a sports club on the other side and to a number of flats behind.
No-one is thought to have been injured in the fire.
The cause of the fire is not yet known, but an investigation will be carried out by the fire service once it has been extinguished.The cause of the fire is not yet known, but an investigation will be carried out by the fire service once it has been extinguished.