Emergency services scrambled to fire at disused pub after 'persons reported'
Emergency services were scrambled to a fire incident on Christmas Day where persons were reported at a disused pub near Shrewsbury.
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But it was confirmed to the Shropshire Star at just before 1pm that there had been no injuries from the incident at the Red Castle Inn, at Harmer Hill.
The Shropshire Fire & Rescue Service incident commander at the scene, station manager Darren Salvoni, said they were hoping to reopen the road, which links Shrewsbury with Ellesmere and the villages between, after a few more hours of clearing up.
The road was closed by West Mercia Police which also sent a considerable response to the area.
Mr Salvoni, based at the fire service headquarters in Shrewsbury, confirmed that there had been no injuries.
Ambulance crews had also been there to help ensure the welfare of the fire crews on the scene.
Mr Salvoni said they had reached the end of the firefighting stage of the operation at just before 1pm after getting the first emergency call at 10.10am. A fire investigation has begun to determine the cause.
He said there had been 30 firefighters at the scene, which proved to be "very complex" because of the internal layout of the upstairs of the disused pub.
"Access was difficult but our teams worked hard in challenging conditions to deal with the incident," he said.
Six fire appliances, including the aerial ladder platform, were scrambled to the disused Red Castle Inn.
The land ambulance service and the police were in attendance, with operations and safety officers.
Crews attended from Baschurch, Prees, Shrewsbury, Telford Central, Wellington and Wem
Police closed Higher Road, in Harmer Hill, Shrewsbury, near the pub and advised drivers to use an alternative route.
Helen Morgan, the North Shropshire MP has tweeted on X: "Very worrying scenes in Harmer Hill this morning. I hope everyone is OK. Thank you to the emergency services for keeping us all safe today, and every day."
In October 2022 the Shropshire Star reported that the pub, with planning permission to convert it into three homes, had been put up for sale.
The Red Castle been closed since August 2018, with subsequent proposals to demolish it and build four semi-detached homes and convert and alter the building into four homes both being refused by Shropshire Council.
However, in September last year the authority approved plans to convert and alter the building to provide three new homes.
The former pub was put on the market for £250,000.
The website of property agent Halls Commercial says that the pub has been sold subject to contract.
