PICTURES: Probe into cause of guesthouse blaze begins

Palatine Road in central Blackpool remains closed this morning after a fire tore through a guesthouse.
The building was engulfed by flames (Pic: Aaron Owen)The building was engulfed by flames (Pic: Aaron Owen)
The building was engulfed by flames (Pic: Aaron Owen)

Fire officials have launched an investigation into the blaze, which started at around 11.15pm yesterday, and are expected to be at the scene for most of the day.
Residents living close to the three-storey building, which is understood to have been empty, were evacuated as five fire engines and one aerial ladder platform were called to tackle the fire.
The guesthouse was engulfed by the time crews arrived, a fire service spokesman said, with the fire spreading rapidly and going unnoticed for some time.
A spokeswoman for Lancashire Police said officers are helping with the investigation.

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