Central motorway remains closed after city centre fire earlier this week
The A167(M) remains closed today (June 30) as emergency service work continues to ensure the area is safe Credit; NORTH NEWS (Image: North News)
A busy road remains closed following a building fire in a North East city centre earlier this week.
Emergency services attended a building fire on Carliol Square, in Newcastle, at about 6:45pm on Wednesday (June 28) evening, with smoke from the huge blaze seen for miles.
The A167(M) remains closed today (June 30) as emergency service work continues to ensure the area is safe.
An investigation into the fire has since been launched by Northumbria Police following the incident.
The closure extends from the A186 Swan House Roundabout underpass and A193 New Bridge Street according to AA road maps.
Deputy Chief Fire Officer Peter Heath said: “This was a large fire right in the city centre that has caused significant disruption to the road network, businesses and residents in the immediate vicinity.
“Thanks to the hard work of our firefighters and Fire Control staff, and with the support of partners across the region, we have arrived on the scene quickly and have been able to get the fire under control and put an operation in place.
“This is a disused building and we have not received any reports of anyone being unaccounted for. However, now the fire is extinguished we will be moving into an investigative phase with Northumbria Police.
“Enquiries will begin to establish the circumstances around the fire and, although we have been able to enter sections of the building, that investigation will also be able to confirm that nobody has been inside.
“We know this fire has had a significant impact on the local road network which impacted commuters last night and during this morning’s rush hour. We want to thank you for your patience and your support.
“Northumbria Police manage the road network but do not take the decision to close roads lightly and we want to thank them, our other multi-agency partners and also the Salvation Army who attended and supported our operation.”
This incident has led to delays on the A19 Northbound at A194 Leam Lane (Lindisfarne Roundabout), and the A19 Southbound between A1056 Killingworth Way (Killingworth Junction) and A184 Newcastle Road (Testo's Roundabout).
A TWFRS spokesperson said: “We have a significant presence at a large fire at a disused building in Carliol Square in Newcastle City Centre this evening.
“Our Fire Control received a call reporting a fire at the large, unoccupied former commercial building at around 6.44pm today. Our first appliance was on scene in just five minutes.
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“In total, eight appliances and two Aerial Ladder Platform (ALP) vehicles are on the scene to help bring the fire under control.
“Our colleagues at Northumbria Police are supporting us on scene and the Central Motorway has been closed northbound from the Tyne Bridge with diversions in place.
“This is in a prominent area in the city centre but we would ask businesses and properties in the area to keep their doors and windows closed due to the level of smoke.
References
- ^ Newcastle Carliol Square Fire: What we know after disruption (www.thenorthernecho.co.uk)
- ^ Darlington's South Park fireworks display cancelled (www.thenorthernecho.co.uk)
- ^ here (www.thenorthernecho.co.uk)