FIFTEEN fire crews fought into the early hours to bring a fire in a four storey terrace in Bridgwater under control.

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service were called at 7.42pm on Wednesday (March 13) following several reports from members of the public that there was a fire in New Look in Cornhill. 

Fire engines from Bridgwater and Burnham-On-Sea, along with an aerial ladder platform were initially sent to the incident.

When crews arrived they confirmed there was in the store and the floors above. 

At 8pm the officer in charge asked for five further pumps to come to the scene which came from Burnham-on-Sea and Taunton, along with an incident command unit from Street and supporting officers.

 At 8.31pm the officer in charge asked for a further four pumps for breathing apparatus and personnel which came from Nether Stowey, Taunton and Glastonbury. 

Crews used four attack jets, four safety jets, two covering jets, four fog spikes and 12 breathing apparatus to fight the fire. 

At 9.43pm the officer in charge asked for an additional six pumps and an aerial ladder platform which came from Wellington, Street, Cheddar, Somerton, Ilminster and Yeovil. 

Various other agencies also attended the incident throughout the evening, including police, ambulance and Western Power.

Crews carried out a thorough search of the building to check for fire spread and made sure everyone involved was accounted for. 
Fortunately, no one was injured and the incident was scaled down at 11.19pm with six fire engines remaining at the scene. 

Firefighters did a thorough check of the adjacent properties and reported that the fire had not spread. 

At 12.16am the incident was reduced to one sector with two working platforms in the building, one on the ground floor and the other on the first floor revealing the extent of fire spread.

Crews continued to check to see if the fire had spread inside the building and at 1.08am the incident was scaled down. 

A spokesman for Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, said: "This was a four storey property including one basement consisting of commercial property and unoccupied flats. 

"The building measured approximately 15m by 45m and was constructed of stone and wood walls with a tiled roof.

"The building suffered 10 per cent fire damage and 40 per cent smoke damage.

"There were twenty nine breathing apparatus wearers in total using two hose reel jets, two main jets, four fog nails, a thermal imaging camera, and snake camera, ladder and working platforms.

"The cause of the fire was deemed accidental."