Overview
- Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service deployed eight crews plus an aerial ladder platform and an incident command unit to the Hippodrome on Queen Street in Market Drayton.
- The venue was fully evacuated without injury as firefighters contained challenging hidden fire spread behind wooden panelling and in roof spaces.
- An investigation found the cause to be accidental, with hot embers dropping through a defect in the fireplace and igniting the wooden floor and supporting timbers.
- Station manager Craig Jackson said the premises were cleared quickly, allowing crews to tackle and control the incident inside the building.
- JD Wetherspoon said the pub remained closed while damage was assessed and contractors checked utilities and began repairs.