A devastating fire at Thurmaston Shopping Centre in Leicestershire has led to the collapse of part of the roof and forced numerous shops to close. The blaze broke out in the early hours of Saturday morning, prompting a large-scale emergency response.
Fire Breaks Out Overnight
The fire was reported at approximately 4am on Saturday at the shopping centre on Barkby Thorpe Lane. Firefighters arrived swiftly to tackle the flames, with eight fire engines, two aerial appliances, and more than 40 firefighters deployed to the scene. This is considered one of the largest emergency responses in the area in recent memory.
Smoke Plume Prompts Warnings
Residents were advised to keep windows and doors closed due to a significant smoke plume that spread across the surrounding area. The smoke posed a health risk and caused concern among local residents.
Damage and Shop Closures
Photographs from the scene show the intense fire engulfing several retail units, with a section of the roof caved in. The fire is believed to have started in a Mountain Warehouse store, with neighboring Greggs and M&S also forced to close as a result. Other retailers in the unit, including Puregym, Superdrug, Boots, and Sports Direct, are expected to reopen later today.
Local Resident Reacts
Local resident Jordan Slack, 29, expressed shock at the incident. "I couldn't believe it. Nothing has ever happened like this around here," he told Leicestershire Live. "I've come down this morning to get to the gym but obviously it's been closed off. I had photos come in from local WhatsApp groups of the fire around 5am. I was shocked. I mean this shopping centre has been here for around 20 years and it's the first big incident we've had here."
Onlookers Gather
A large crowd gathered in the vicinity this morning to assess the destruction and watch firefighters battling the flames. "Nothing really happens in Thurmaston so as you can see everyone is out here this morning seeing what's happened," Jordan added. "When I first saw the pictures, I thought the fire would take the whole shopping centre but thankfully it was stopped before it grew further."
Investigation Underway
The cause of the fire remains unclear at this stage, and authorities are investigating the incident. The shopping centre has been closed to the public while cleanup and assessment efforts continue.
