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A fire has all but destroyed the pier at Weston super Mare in Somerset. Avon Fire and Rescue service was called to the scene at around 7.00 this morning and were face with what was described as a well developed fire with intense radiated heat. No casualties have been reported.
In total 13 fire engines, special appliances and more than 100 firefighters and officers were in attendance at the height of the operation. Due to the severity of the fire, crews fought the flames from a distance using water jets and set up fixed ground monitors, which were left to deploy water onto the fire.
During the course of the operation the fire & rescue service’s recently procured hovercraft was mobilised. The hovercraft crew have been making constant assessments of the pier’s structure, to ensure the safety of firefighters working above.
The pier had only reopened in April after a GB pound 1 million refurbishment. The fire follows on from the destruction by fires of Southend Pier in 2005 and Brighton Pier in 2003.
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