Mystery hero in city blaze alert
A mystery man waving at CCTV cameras helped save a Lincoln shopping mall from flames which threatened to engulf it.
One firefighter was injured in a severe blaze which ripped through a restaurant on the first floor of the Shopping Mall, in High Street, Lincoln.
-
Firefighters outside The Mall
But CCTV camera operators were only alerted to the fire at 4.31am yesterday when a young man began waving at the cameras, which were pointed downwards towards the street, in a desperate attempt to attract their attention.
Six fire crews and a hydraulic platform were required to control the fire which also damaged the recently refurbished Gere Menswear and Milano's Pizza on the ground floor of the mall.
Angela Porter, proprietor of Image bridal wear at the Shopping Mall, said: "I would like to thank CCTV for being so observant and it just shows the benefits of it. I dread to think what would have happened if the fire had been around for longer."
Steve Bird, acting head of communication, leisure and sport at Lincoln City Council said: "The command network does not look at shop fronts.
"There was someone walking down the street who could see something and waved to the camera."
Gere Menswear owner Scott Crowson said he was looking at having to refit the whole shop less than a week after revamping it.
"It will probably be about four to eight weeks before it is sorted out but it is business as usual at our other shop on Clasketgate," he said.
Nick Davis, group manager at Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue, said investigations into the cause of the blaze were still ongoing.
For the full story see Tuesday's Lincolnshire Echo.
16 Comments
View all
by spartacus, lincoln
Tuesday, September 30 2008, 9:56AM
“I'm Spartacus!”
by Pyro man, Location, The Stratosphere
Wednesday, September 24 2008, 10:33AM
“It wasn't me! Alright?
Nuff said!!”
by annoyed at bouncer bob, lincoln
Tuesday, September 23 2008, 8:35PM
“if you think it so bloody easy mr. bob why dont you go down and help the lads at gere get it sorted, im sure they would be glad of your assistance!
unfortunately, i dont think your limited intelligence and knuckleduster will be any use in this particular situation!
last time i checked, whacking someone round the head and doing up a shop were entirely different! so SHUT IT!!!!!”
by anon, lincoln
Tuesday, September 23 2008, 2:38PM
“I'm sure the pizza and garlic bread will still be top notch, even with the slightly smoked taste to it!
Also in response to the pedestrianisation of Norwich City centre, could not the inhabitants be used as hard-core in the underlaying of the street pavements?”
by Pizza boy, The mall
Tuesday, September 23 2008, 1:15PM
“Well done to the pyromaniac that waved at the camera,before running off .”
by Anon, Lincoln
Tuesday, September 23 2008, 1:09PM
“Re Bouncer Bob, there is always some-one who crawls out from the gutter to criticise public services CCTV Police etc.
Wonder what he has ever done to serve or benefit the community?”
by Alan Partridge, Norwich City Centre
Tuesday, September 23 2008, 10:54AM
“Why is someone pretending to be me. I am Alan Partridge AHA! I think the pedestrianisation of Norwich City Centre is a ridiculous idea.
Knowing me Alan Partridge, Knowing you Lincolnshire Echo website readers AHA!”
by billy, lincoln
Tuesday, September 23 2008, 10:20AM
“they do a cracking pizza there and the garlic bread is tops what a shame!”
by Will Stevenson, Nottingham
Tuesday, September 23 2008, 10:20AM
“Why did he chose to wave at the cameras? Isnt there a phone box just down the road? Seems strange that anyone would choose to wave at cameras not knowing if anyone was watching them at that time of the morning.”
by Anon, lincoln
Tuesday, September 23 2008, 9:59AM
“Alan, norwich will always be a carrott crunching, tractor driving weird place. Me thinks it is best if they all move to oz.”