Fire crews battle flat fire in St Annes

Fire crews from St Annes and South Shore were called to reports of a fire at a block of flats in North Promenade at 11.24pm last night.

North Promenade and Clifton Drive North were closed in both directions overnight.

The fire happened at a block of flats next door to The Monterey Beach Hotel on the seafront.

On arrival, firefighters found that the blaze had spread from a flat on the third floor to the second, and crews called for support.

The number of fire engines at the scene was increased to 10, in addition to two Aerial Ladder Platforms (ALPs).

At the fire's peak, around 60 firefighters were called out and residents had to be evacuated from the burning building.

Guests at the Monterey Beach Hotel next door also had to be evacuated as a precaution.

Apartments next door, on the other side of the block of flats, also had to be checked by firefighters at 4.30am, to ensure noxious fumes had not penetrated into the building.

Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service (LFRS) said four firefighters wearing breathing masks and equipped with hose reels and jets began tackling the fire prior to the ALPs' arrival.

All residents, as well as guests at a neighbouring hotel, were safely evacuated. No injuries have been reported.

An LFRS Incident Investigation lorry and temporary Incident Office have been set up at North Promenade Car Park across the road.

At 2.05am, firefighters were continuing to try to bring the fire under control and residents in the area were advised to close windows and doors as a precaution against smoke inhalation.

By 3.35am, firefighters had 'sectorised' the fire but were still working to bring the fire under control using the two aerial ladder platforms whilst crews in breathing masks battled the fire with hoses and jets.

Firefighters were also forced to remove some roof tiles to prevent the blaze from spreading to a neighbouring hotel.

At 7am, the number of engines had been reduced to eight, with two ALPs still on site in an effort to extinguish all traces of the fire and prevent any flare ups.

Lancashire's chief fire officer, Justin Johnson, tweeted: "Great work from fire crews from across Lancashire last night in preventing a significant fire from spreading from one ex hotel, now HMO (Homes in Multiple Occupation), to another hotel."