Former legion club severely damaged in blaze

Firefighters tackled the blaze at the empty three-storey club on Lofthouse Road, Fleetwood, after receiving the emergency call shortly after 1am today.

Five fire appliances - two from Fleetwood, two from Blackpool and one from Bispham - plus an aerial ladder platform from Blackpool and a breathing apparatus unit from Preston attended the incident.

Firefighters equipped with breathing apparatus used three hose reels and two main jets to extinguish the fire.

Crew manager Stephen Cheetham, of Fleetwood fire station, said: “When we got there the building was well alight.

“Persons were reported but there was no-one in the building.

“There was severe fire on the ground floor area of the premises. We managed to get a good stop on it.”

Firefighters were at the scene for around five-and-a-half hours and were returning there again this morning.

There was severe damage to the ground and first floors, but the building was saved and there were no casualties.

Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service described the blaze as being “deliberate” and said a fire and police investigation is under way.