A massive fire has broken out at a shopping centre in Leicestershire, destroying the building and causing its roof to collapse. Emergency services were called to Thurmaston Shopping Centre on Barkby Thorpe Lane at approximately 4am on Saturday, June 20.
Fire Engulfs Shopping Centre Early Morning
Footage from the scene shows flames ripping through the structure, with the entire roof caved in. Jordan Slack, 29, who lives nearby, told LeicestershireLive: 'I came down this morning to go to the gym, but obviously it's closed off. I saw photos on local WhatsApp groups of the fire around 5am. I was shocked. I couldn't believe it. Nothing like this has ever happened around here.'
Slack added: 'When I first saw the pictures, I thought the fire would take the whole shopping centre, but thankfully it was stopped before it spread further.'
Emergency Response and Safety Advice
Leicestershire Fire Service reported receiving multiple calls about the large fire, which affected several units. The service deployed eight fire engines, two aerial appliances, and over 40 firefighters to tackle the blaze. A spokesperson said: 'There is a significant smoke plume, and local residents are advised to keep windows and doors closed. There is still a significant presence of fire appliances at the incident; our advice remains to avoid the area and for residents to keep windows and doors shut.'
The cause of the fire is under investigation. No injuries have been reported at this time.
