OriginalRobboFOX Posted 20 March 2007 Posted 20 March 2007 From thisisleicestershire.co.uk HAYMARKET EVACUATED AFTER FIRE BREAKS OUT More Headlines | Back to home page Be the first reader to comment on this story 12:16 - 20 March 2007 The Haymarket shopping centre was evacuated and roads were closed today after a fire broke out on the roof of the building. Passers-by fled after hearing an explosion at the top of the former Littlewoods building, in Humberstone Gate, Leicester. Smoke was seen pouring from the roof at about 9.30am and eight fire engines were sent to the scene. The explosion - said to be caused by a fire extinguisher which blew up due to the heat - was heard about 10 minutes later. Fire service incident commander Des Stone said: "Workers were renovating an empty unit at the top of the building. "They were firing up an oxypropane torch and were cutting away parts of the steel. Sparks from the torch ignited the roof above them. "The explosion was a carbon dioxide fire extinguisher which they had with them. The fire looked worse than it was. "The workers did a good job of clearing the oxypropane cylinders from the area to make the fire-fighting operation safe." The shopping centre was evacuated and shoppers in stores on the other side of Humberstone Gate were ordered to stay inside. Firefighters climbed to the roof to fight the flames, which were visible from the ground. One eyewitness said: "There was an explosion and the smoke came pouring out. The roof was on fire. "You could see half a dozen firefighters climbing to the top of the building. There was lots of black, acrid smoke." An office worker said she heard the explosion from the other side of the city centre. She said: "We were in Welford Road and heard a bang. To start with, I wondered if it was thunder. "My friend said she was walking through the market and could not breathe." When the fire started, 20 members of 2nd Battalion, the Royal Anglian Regiment, were setting up a stall in Humberstone Gate in preparation for their Freedom of Entry to Leicester parade. Sergeant John Chillingsworth said: "We noticed smoke coming from the top of the building. "Before long, you could smell it. We started moving people away before the firefighters arrived - that's when I heard a large bang. "There was some sort of explosion on the roof. We immediately started clearing people away. We also ushered them as they came out of the centre." John Norman, 32, from Wigston, was on the first floor of the shopping centre. He said: "As I went into the shopping centre, I could see a small amount of smoke. "Then, as I was coming out of the toilets on the first floor, I heard a loud explosion, like a deep boom. "I saw security staff running along the balcony opposite and there was a firefighter who was shouting at people to get out. I wasn't going to stick around, so I got out." The smoke led to the evacuation of several nearby buildings. Phyllis Brown, a customer in Brucciani's cafe opposite the centre, said: "I had just walked through the Haymarket to meet a friend at the cafe. "We were in the cafe and we noticed a strong smell of smoke. "That's when I heard the bang. It was like a gas cylinder of some kind had exploded. Everyone was asked to leave the cafe." Other shoppers reported being stranded in stores on the opposite side of Humberstone Gate. Belgrave Gate and the area around the Clock Tower were affected by road closures. Kevin Williams watched the thick, black smoke as it obscured parts of the city centre. He was decorating his third-floor flat above NatWest bank, in Horsefair Street, when he heard the fire engines arrive. Mr Williams, 49, said: "At one point, the smoke was so thick I couldn't see the old Lewis's tower." Most of Humberstone Gate was re-opened shortly after 10.30am. Police said no injuries were reported. Bollocks, I work on Charles Street and heard nothing....
OriginalRobboFOX Posted 20 March 2007 Author Posted 20 March 2007 Haymarket - Dodge-ites shopping centre Shires - Average Joes shopping centre St Martins - Heirarchy of societies shopping centre
Cobbo Posted 20 March 2007 Posted 20 March 2007 Haymarket - Dodge-ites shopping centre Shires - Average Joes shopping centre St Martins - Heirarchy of societies shopping centre Well I'm glad you told me.
Unit Posted 20 March 2007 Posted 20 March 2007 Haymarket - Dodge-ites shopping centre Shires - Average Joes shopping centre St Martins - Heirarchy of societies shopping centre too fooking right, i can't go into the haymarket without my bargepole.
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