Around 100 firefighters tackle charity shop fire in Abergavenny as homes evacuated
Video report by Mike Griffiths
Around 100 firefighters tackled a fire in Abergavenny overnight, which saw residents evacuated from their homes.
Police and fire crews were called to reports of a fire at the back of The Magic Cottage Charity Shop on Frogmore Street at around 8.30pm on Sunday, 10 November.
The fire caused extensive damage to the building, which caused the collapse of the first and second floors, along with the roof.
A number of residents spent the night at a leisure centre before being allowed back into their homes. There have been no reported injuries.
People have been urged to avoid the area while the cordon remains in place and to keep doors and windows closed due to smoke.
In a statement, Gwent Police said: "A number of roads remain closed in Abergavenny after reports of a fire on Sunday, 10 November.
"The fire, at the back of The Magic Cottage Charity Shop, was reported to police at around 8.35pm.
"A cordon is in place on Frogmore Street, Baker Street and Princes Street.
"The fire service is currently investigating the cause of the fire and our officers are working with them.
"No-one was injured.
"Three households were evacuated at the time and Abergavenny Leisure Centre in Old Hereford Road was set up as a reception centre for those impacted.
"Emergency services remain at the scene and the public are advised to avoid the immediate area and continue to close windows and doors due to the smoke."
Anyone with any information about the fire is asked to call police on 101 or direct message them social media, quoting reference number 2400375539.
The police statement added: "We understand that this will have an impact on local business, we thank them for their co-operation. We will continue to work with our partners to reopen roads as soon as it is safe to do so."
South Wales Fire and Rescue Service said: "[We] can confirm that at 2033 hours on 10 November 2024, crews were mobilised to reports of a fire at The Magic Cottage Charity Shop in Abergavenny.
"At the height of the incident there were 14 fire engines, 4 water bowsers, 2 aerial appliances and a high volume pump used to control the fire, with approximately 100 firefighters at the scene.
"South Wales Fire and Rescue Service were supported by crews from Mid and West Wales, Hereford and Worcester and Gloucester Fire and Rescue Services.
"Crews took several hours to bring the incident under control and currently remain on scene working closely with the police and our partner agencies.
"The fire has caused extensive damage to the building causing a collapse to the first and second floors, and roof of the building, and crews working arduously to prevent further spread to neighbouring properties. A number of nearby properties were evacuated and there are no reports of any injuries.
"Cordons remain in place within the vicinity of the incident, and we ask the public to continue to avoid the area. We would like to express our best wishes to the businesses affected by the fire and we will endeavour to allow the area to return to business as usual as soon as practically possible.
"We will work closely with GWP CSI to determine the cause, origin and to understand how the fire developed, and until a thorough fire investigation has been carried out we are unable to confirm any of these details.
"The public are thanked for their patience while we continue to deal with this incident."
Monmouthshire Council said emergency road closures are expected to be in place for around a week: on Frogmore Street, from the war memorial to WHSmith, and Baker Street from its junction with Frogmore Street to near Library Square.
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