Yesterday evening, just before 1700, fire crews from across Cumbria were called to reports of a fire affecting multiple properties at the intersection of Salthouse Road and Marsh Street in Barrow-in-Furness.

At the height of the fire, 8 properties were affected, and a total of 13 properties were evacuated for the residents’ safety. Three children and two adults had self-evacuated from one of the properties prior to the arrival of the fire service. Because this incident required a multi-agency response, a major incident was declared at around 1900. Teams of firefighters battled the fire, which had spread to neighbouring properties and rendered several of them uninhabitable.

The incident has been scaled back, but crews are still on the scene this morning to dampen down and prevent a re-ignition. Fire investigators have arrived on the scene but have been unable to gain access, due to the structural integrity of several of the properties.

It is expected that investigations, dampening, and structural reviews will continue throughout today.