Fire forces pair to flee pub

Thursday 19th March 2009, 1:45PM GMT.

sd3119592w-sty-no19fire-1 Two people were forced to flee a Market Drayton pub when a blaze tore through part of the building early today.

Firefighters had to remove roof tiles to get to the fire at the Kings Head Inn in Shrewsbury Road. They were called to the building just after midnight and spent about two hours at the scene.

Mark Smith, crew manager at Market Drayton Fire Station, said today the fire appeared to have started accidentally when radiated heat from the chimney set fire to a wooden beam in the roof.

He said the pub landlord and his partner had escaped the property unharmed and were safely outside when crews arrived.

Crews wore breathing apparatus and used hoses to fight the flames inside the pub. A ladder was deployed outside so crews could remove roof tiles and cut away timbers to put out part of the blaze which spread into the roof space and gutted an upstairs bedroom.

Mr Smith said: “There was considerable damage to a first floor bedroom and smoke was issuing from the property when we arrived but there were no flames visible.

“I would warn people to get their chimneys swept regularly and to be careful with the kinds of fuel they are burning.”

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