Heaton Road flats and shop damaged in fire

Turn the Heaton up


A fire on Heaton Road has left a woman injured, student flats destroyed and a shop severely damaged.

Fire crews were called to the scene at Heaton Glaziers at 1pm on Thursday but the ground floor of the shop could not be saved.

Five student bedrooms on the first floor of the building were severely damaged by smoke.

A sixth bedroom and bathroom were affected by the fire. Several students were made to evacuate their living room but were unharmed.

A worker from Heaton glaziers has been reported as suffering from superficial burns to her hands, which fire crews attended to at the scene.

The blaze is thought to have been caused by wind from an open door and window blowing a curtain across a gas heater.

The curtain is thought to have caught fire, spreading the flames to the wood panelling of the shop walls, acting as fuel for the fire.

Charred remains of the shop’s interior

The store-room of the shop, which sells windows, doors and conservatories, suffered the brunt of the damage.

The injured woman stayed with fire fighters until an ambulance arrived, taking her to Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary.

An investigation into the cause of the fire is due to take place but it is being treated as accidental.