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Fire destroys Langdon Hills Triangle shopping parade | |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Four shops have been destroyed in a "devastating" fire at a shopping parade involving a series of small explosions. | |
The fire at The Triangle in Langdon Hills, Basildon, which included a hair salon and convenience store, started just before 14:00 GMT. | |
Essex Fire and Rescue said they fought the flames from several angles which included using special platform to douse the fire with water from above. | |
Firefighters expect to "damp down" at the site for most of the night. | |
Divisional officer Mark Earwicker said: "When crews arrived they were faced with a well developed fire in the roof of the building, which quickly spread across the centre which houses three units. | |
"The fire involved a number canisters and a quantity of alcohol which caused a few small explosions within the building, nothing which caused us any real problems." | |
As the roof collapsed into the building it created "pockets of fire" which proved "hard for crews to get at", he said. | |
Speaking earlier, witness Marjorie Jackson said: "There are flames coming from the roof all of the way down. There is very black smoke. | |
"Things keep dropping off and sending up showers of sparks. It is absolutely devastating." | "Things keep dropping off and sending up showers of sparks. It is absolutely devastating." |
Nobody was hurt as a result of the fire. | |
Mr Earwicker added: "It was a very serious fire and there is now a high level investigation to establish the cause. | |
"The most significant problem with the fire was the roof structure as it got into the roof and spread through the building." |
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