Overview

• A fire broke out Saturday afternoon at the centuries-old fair in Appleby-in-Westmorland, engulfing a tent, stall and van before Cumbria Fire and Rescue crews extinguished the flames
• Huge crowds gathered to watch black smoke billow across the site, with some fairgoers assisting stallholders in moving tables and belongings away from the fire’s path
• Despite heavy rain, stallholders worked quickly to dismantle nearby tents and protect their goods while firefighters cleared residual hotspots
• The annual gathering sees the local population swell tenfold to around 30,000 visitors, including an estimated 10,000 Gypsy, Roma and Traveller community members
• Authorities made 49 arrests in operations before this year’s fair and both the RSPCA and Redwings Horse Sanctuary are investigating alleged animal welfare breaches during traditional horse displays