Investigation underway after 50 people evacuated as firefighters tackle flat fire on Marsh House Lane

UPDATED: FIRE investigation work is underway after 50 people were evacuated and 14 people treated on site by ambulance crews as six fire crews tackled a significant fire in the stairwell of flats on Marsh House Lane, Warrington.

At 17:23, crews from Warrington, Birchwood, Lymm, Knutsford, Penketh and Alsager, plus the aerial ladder platform from Lymm, attended the scene after North West Fire Control received multiple reports of a fire in the stairwell of flats.

UPDATE 18:15 Crews wearing breathing apparatus have been deployed to tackle the fire.
Emergency services are advising people to avoid the area.

UPDATE AT 19:30 | A number of road closures are in place to allow emergency services access to the incident. Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus are working in teams to tackle the fire from the exterior of the building. A number of people have been rescued from dwellings on the upper storeys of the four-storey building.

UPDATE: 22:30 North West Ambulance Service confirmed a major incident was declared after a call from Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service reported a fire and people trapped on Marsh House Lane, Warrington.
A spokesperson for the ambulance service said: “We sent multiple resources to the scene, including several emergency ambulances, our hazardous area response team, senior clinicians and critical care paramedics from North West Air Ambulance.
“50 people were evacuated from the building and our clinicians treated 14 patients at the scene. Thankfully, they did not require hospital treatment.
“Thank you to all our staff involved in the incident for your efforts.”

Cheshire Fire Brigade added:”We can confirm that firefighters have extinguished a large fire in the stairwell of a four-storey block of flats. A total of 50 people have been rescued from the building, including through the windows and balconies of the third and fourth floor.
“North West Ambulance Service triaged and treated those rescued on the scene and thankfully, no serious injuries have been reported.
“At this time, it is believed everyone in the building has been accounted for but firefighters will carry out thorough checks.
“The blue light response has been significant, but the number of emergency service resources are being reduced accordingly.
“Fire crews will remain in attendance overnight. Roads in the immediate area will remain closed. An investigation into the cause is underway.
“Thank you to residents and the local community for their calmness and co-operation.”

UPDATE AT MIDNIGHT | All searches of the building have now been completed. One aerial ladder platform and three fire engines will remain at the scene overnight, monitoring for hotspots and continuing to damp down. The investigation into the cause of the fire will continue tomorrow.
UPDATE AT 8:00 TUESDAY JUNE 3 | Crews have remained at the incident overnight, regularly checking the building for hotspots and damping down as necessary. Fire crews will be reducing resources further over the next few hours.