Motherwell Pub Fire

From @Strathclyde_FRS

Shortly after 4:30 pm this afternoon (Sunday 29th January), Strathclyde Fire
& Rescue's (SFR's) Operational Support Centre received the first of a number
of calls reporting a fire within a building in Church Street, Newarthill, near
Motherwell in North Lanarkshire.

Two fire appliances were immediately dispatched from Motherwell Community
Fire Station, with further support provided by an appliance from Bellshill
Community Fire Station.
The first attending crews were faced with a well developed fire within a
single storey, unoccupied pub building. The Incident Commander quickly deployed
crews in to the building wearing Breathing Apparatus and carrying firefighting
jets, and they battled through acrid smoke and great heat to tackle the
fire.

Later in the incident, Motherwell Fire Station's Aerial Rescue Pump (ARP) was
used to great effect in providing a firefighting jet from above the building to
deal with pockets of fire that had spread into the roof. The ARP was also
invaluable in allowing the Incident Commander to assess the extent of fire
spread and the effectiveness of firefighting operations.

Throughout the incident, firefighting crews were assisted by their colleagues
in Strathclyde Police who dealt with traffic control and crowds in the vicinity,
and North Lanarkshire Building Standards Section who also worked closely with
SFR crews to ensure that the building would be left in a safe and secure
state.

SFR crews are still on scene at this time. The cause of the fire is as yet
unknown, and is subject to an investigation by Strathclyde Police.