Overview
- The blaze was reported shortly after 9:30am on Friday on Richardson Way in the Berry Edge Estate of Consett.
- County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service deployed three engines and an aerial ladder platform as police and council teams established cordons and evacuated neighbors.
- The North East Ambulance Service sent two ambulance crews and a Hazardous Area Response Team, transporting four patients to the University Hospital of North Durham.
- Fire crews departed at 2:34pm and plan to reattend in the coming days due to the extent of the damage to ensure the building is safe.
- An investigation into the cause is ongoing but not being treated as suspicious, and authorities asked the public to stop calling to report the incident to keep emergency lines free.