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Harrogate restaurant blaze site damped down Harrogate Prezzo fire 'hammer blow' to town
(about 5 hours later)
Firefighters are damping down the site of a blaze that ravaged a restaurant and damaged flats overnight in a North Yorkshire town. A major fire which wrecked a restaurant and damaged flats in Harrogate town centre is a "hammer blow" to businesses and residents affected, an MP has said.
At its height 90 firefighters and 18 fire engines were at Prezzo Italian restaurant in Harrogate. Ninety firefighters fought for several hours on Tuesday to control the blaze at Prezzo Italian restaurant in Albert Street. Fourteen flats were evacuated.
Thirteen flats were evacuated after the fire spread from the restaurant's kitchen at about lunchtime on Tuesday. The street will be closed for at least two days as the building is shored up.
Now only two engines remain and structural engineers are expected to check the Albert Street site. Local MP Andrew Jones said: "Many of the businesses will be out of action for some time."
'Windows turned black' A Harrogate Borough Council spokesman said the local authority was considering what support it could give to businesses affected by the fire.
Chloe Hall, who was evacuated from a nearby shop, said: "There was lots of smoke and it just got bigger and bigger. However, he said the immediate priority was to ensure public safety and scaffolding would be erected over the next two to three days to stabilise the front and rear of the affected properties.
"I have never seen crystal-clear windows turned black like that." Residents from the 14 housing association flats which were evacuated have all been found temporary alternative accommodation.
Lee Smith, a station manager with North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue, said: "There was a fire in the ducting area and it travelled through the different nooks and crannies, spaces and voids in that building. But local businesses have already expressed concern about the effect on their trade.
Businesswoman Sam Addy said: "I thought for a little independent shop like myself, and the other one at the other end of the street, that is no good for us.
"Although I feel bad for Prezzo and Pizza Express they can afford to make a loss but we can't really afford to be out of business for a few weeks.
"I just hope that we stand strong and people will support us."
'Personal tragedy'
Mr Jones, the Conservative MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, said: "The fire on Albert Street is a hammer blow for the business and residents affected.
"Many of the businesses will be out of action for some time and the employees without jobs during that period.
"Around 13 families had to be re-housed overnight from flats in the area and I understand that the housing association that owns the properties will be assessing whether or not people can return to their homes.
"It seems likely though that some have lost their homes and belongings - a personal tragedy for them.
"This terrible fire has drawn the community together and I would like to thank all those who have donated cash, blankets, food and toiletries to help those who may have lost their belongings. "
North Yorkshire Fire Service said the fire was the biggest in the town since the Majestic Hotel was severely damaged in May 2010.
Station manager Lee Smith said the age of the buildings in Albert Street had contributed to the fire's spread.
"There was a fire in the ducting area and it travelled through the different nooks and crannies, spaces and voids in that building," he said.
"It's quite an old building, it's had lots of work done over the years and this has meant there's been lots of spaces that enabled the fire to progress.""It's quite an old building, it's had lots of work done over the years and this has meant there's been lots of spaces that enabled the fire to progress."
Crews from across the county and West Yorkshire were called to the blaze. Although none of the residents was injured in the fire, it is feared a number of pets may have perished.
The fire is believed to have spread to four flats with several suffering smoke damage. One resident called Steve told BBC Radio York: "At the moment I'm gutted and feel bereaved because I feel my cat's dead. I'm almost in tears."
No-one is thought to have been hurt in the fire, though some small pets are unaccounted for. Another resident, Jessica Scott, told Stray FM that she had watched the fire knowing her pet rabbit and two hamsters were inside.
Albert Street is still closed and firefighters expect to remain at the site all day.