Shop/restaurant fire - Cambridge -

12 August 2008, 8.29am

Around 40 firefighters are currently at the scene of a fire in a shop/restaurant in Kings Street, Cambridge, after receiving a call at around 8.30am this morning.

Seven fire engines, two turntable ladders and the incident command unit are at the scene. Crews are tackling the blaze at the two-storey building using jets from the front and rear of the premises. It is believed around 50 per cent of the building is affected by the fire.

Crews in attendance are from Cambridge (x2), Papworth, Linton, Sawston, St Ives and Huntingdon. The turntable ladders are from Cambridge and Bury St Edmunds.

Roads in the immediate area are closed while fire crews deal with the incident and motorists are advised to avoid the area.

 

Update, 11.50am

The bulk of the fire has now been extinguished and firefighters are in the process of damping down the scene. This is believed to be a kitchen fire which spread to the roof of D'Arry's Wine Shop in Kings Street, Cambridge. About 50 per cent of the building has been damaged by fire.

Rick Hylton, Incident Commander, said: "We believe that this fire began in the kitchen and spread rapidly, but thanks to the quick response by crews we were able to control the fire quite quickly.

"At one point the fire was in danger of spreading to the nearby Christ's College building, but thanks to the early efforts of firefighters at the scene, this was prevented."   A fire investigation will now begin to determine the cause of the fire.  

Update, 4.30pm

Firefighters have now left the scene, but will be returning to do a re-inspection later this evening. Further re-inspections may occur overnight.   The fire investigation is on-going.   

 

Update, Monday August 18, 11am

A fire investigation has now been completed. The cause of the fire has been confirmed as cooking which had been left unattended.