Video and pix: Fire in York city centre causes ‘extensive damage’

Firefighters were called to the scene of a blaze in York city centre.

Smoke was seen billowing out of the roof of a building above the Cornish Bakery on Colliergate at about 1pm on Thursday (October 4).

The smoke was also drifting down Goodramgate and St Andrewgate.

Fire engines from York, Acomb, Huntington, Tadcaster and Malton – and the turntable ladder – were sent to the scene. Firefighters taped off an area of Colliergate.

Crews in breathing apparatus went in to the building. At one stage a fireman was seen at an upper floor window, wedging it open.

Shops and flats were evacuated as crowds gathered in Kings Square to watch the drama unfold. Fortunately no one was hurt.

The fire was extinguished by early afternoon. One fire crew remained on scene till about 3.30pm, when Colliergate reopened.

A North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service spokesman said:

• The three storey premises suffered extensive fire damage to its first and second floors.

  Hosereel jets were used to extinguish the fire which was believed to have started in an extractor fan due to an electrical fault.

  Firecrews also isolated the electrical supply, used a positive pressure fan to ventilate adjacent properties and carried out salvage operations.