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Man dies in 'major' apartment block fire

Eugene Kaufman An aerial ladder with a fireman on it tackling the fire at a building in Kirkby Lonsdale. The flames and smoke are visible and a jet of water is also hitting the traditional stone building.Eugene Kaufman
A major incident has been declared by the emergency services

A man has died in a fire in a town centre flat.

Firefighters were called to the blaze on Main Street in in Kirkby Lonsdale, Cumbria, at 5:45 GMT on Sunday.

Cumbria Police said the victim was a man in his 40s, and another man was injured in what was described as a "major incident".

Reception centres were set up at the Methodist Church in Queen Square and the Lunesdale Hall and Kirkby Lonsdale Institute for people who were forced to leave nearby homes and guest houses.

David Love, area manager for Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service, said: "Early this morning we responded to a flat fire which subsequently spread into a three-storey commercial building on the High Street.

"We've got 12 appliances, 10 from Cumbria, two from Lancashire, plus two aerial ladders.

"Firebreaks have been created to bring it under control."

View down a street of firefighters and two appliances, with a tangle of fire hoses on the ground. A police officer stands on the left of the scene,
A cordon is in place around the scene

Mr Love added: "A number of people have been displaced from B&Bs, commercial properties, and they are in reception centres, being kept warm and fed."

He went on to praise local residents for their community spirit in helping the emergency services and those affected by the fire.

"It's been really heartening to see," he said.

Eugene Kaufman Firefighters on the street in front of the building that caught fire in Kirkby Lonsdale. They are working with a firefighter who is on an aerial ladder to bring the flames under control.Eugene Kaufman
Twelve appliances were in use at the height of the blaze

MP for Morecambe and Lunesdale Lizzi Collinge urged people to stay away from the town.

She said most of those moved out of nearby properties were visitors, and that they were being helped by the council.

St Mary's Primary School had been opened for children who could not return to their accommodation.

Cumbria Police Supt Paddy O'Hara said: "The cause of the fire is presently unknown.

"Investigators from both Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service and Cumbria Constabulary are on hand to enter the building as soon as it is safe to do so."

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