A fire in a flat in Shanklin Old Village has sparked the response of several emergency services this afternoon (Sunday).
4 fire appliances from across the Island, including the aerial ladder platform, and several Isle of Wight Ambulance Service resources have descended upon Shanklin after melted wires caught light in a flat above the Paramount Cafe.
Members of the local community bore witness to black smoke billowing out of the windows of the flat.
On scene, with the use of 3 hose reel jets, fire fighters clad in breathing apparatus have now extinguished the fire.
Island Echo believes that there has been no serious injuries however 1 cat was helped by paramedics on scene and has since been taken to the vets.
Currently, there is no through access through High Street.
The cause of the fire is said to be electrical, with firefighters describing melting wires that set a chair and cabinet alight.
Below the flat, the Paramount Cafe has suffered extensive water damage and is said to potentially have to close for a couple weeks whilst repairs take place.
UPDATED @ 17:00 – High Street, Shanklin has now reopened in all directions after the area was deemed safe by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue personnel.
Sounds like a DIY sparky job. Properly installed wires don’t melt.
Too many wanna be tradesmen on the island.
Obviously not the brightest spark.
Luckily it wasn’t Regent Street, due to vehicles parking
outside the takeaways making Regent Street double sided
parking, the emergency services wouldn’t get through.
Please can we have an update on the cat?
Judging by the amount of fire engines there they must of thought it was going to spread to the rest of the town.lol.
Snooker table must be having a new cloth
Lol