Home2 posters
History goes up in smoke
Admin- Admin
- Posts : 14
Join date : 2009-01-13
ZipperDipper- Posts : 126
Join date : 2009-01-13
Age : 41
Location : Sunny Southport
This is a tragedy for Blackpool. Such an iconic building. My parents spent a few happy hours in Yates'.... such a shame 
ZipperDipper- Posts : 126
Join date : 2009-01-13
Age : 41
Location : Sunny Southport
A little bit of good news regarding this terrible fire... a canary survives!!!!
Published Date:
02 March 2009
By Lisa Ettridge
MEET Phoenix – the tiny miracle of the Talbot Square inferno.
Against all odds – and temperatures of up to 1,000 degrees celsius – the plucky canary survived the devastating blaze which destroyed Blackpool's historic Yates Wine Lodge and many other businesses.
It was plucked from the rubble of Blackpool Aquaria and Pet Supplies on Clifton Street which was left gutted by the blaze.
The other 100 animals trapped inside the shop all died.
It is believed Phoenix – as the bird has been named by Blackpool Council staff in honour of the mythical Greek firebird which rose from the ashes – had fallen into an air pocket which protected him from the intense heat and smoke.
The bird was found by demolition workers clearing the fire-ravaged Talbot Square site.
A council spokeswoman explained: "Demolition crews were working on the Clifton Street site when the bird simply popped its head out near a pile of rubble.
It was quite stunned and just sat there so the man was able to pick it up and carry it to safety.
"They handed it to one of our members of staff who put it in a cardboard box and took it to a vet."
Fiona Cummins, of the Mere Road Veterinary Practice, said Phoenix was in remarkable health considering its traumatic ordeal.
She said: "When the bird was brought to me I listened to its chest and found it was breathing normally.
"It was able to fly so its wings had obviously not been damaged and there was no real problem with it at all. The only evidence that it had been in the fire was a quantity of dust on its head and tail feathers."
Fire tore through Talbot Square's iconic Yates's building in the early hours of Sunday, February 15, leaving a £20m trail of destruction in its path.
The pet shop was destroyed together with a Subway sandwich shop and Wildcats lap dancing bar.
The tragic fate of the animals – which included birds, cats, rabbits and snakes – has moved many members of the public to leave floral tributes on Clifton Street.
It was thought none could have survived temperatures said to be between 700 and 1,000 celsius, until Phoenix was pulled from the rubble.
But Watch Manager Steve Palmer from South Shore fire station, who was at the scene in the aftermath of the blaze, said: "You'd be surprised what can survive very serious fires.
"We quite often recover pets from areas where you'd think nothing could stay alive. A few years back we pulled a tortoise out of a very serious house fire in Blackpool. Its shell was red hot, it burnt your hands to touch, but it just popped its head out as if nothing had happened and it lived.
"Dislodged masonry can offer protection from the heat and smoke. If this bird managed to get into one of these pockets then it could well have been shielded."
Phoenix is now being looked after by a council employee who has an aviary.
News of the survival has been met with amazement by councillors. Coun Henry Mitchell said: "The survival of the bird is incredible."
source
http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/black ... 5027651.jp
copyright the Blackpool Evening Gazzette
_________________
Published Date:
02 March 2009
By Lisa Ettridge
MEET Phoenix – the tiny miracle of the Talbot Square inferno.
Against all odds – and temperatures of up to 1,000 degrees celsius – the plucky canary survived the devastating blaze which destroyed Blackpool's historic Yates Wine Lodge and many other businesses.
It was plucked from the rubble of Blackpool Aquaria and Pet Supplies on Clifton Street which was left gutted by the blaze.
The other 100 animals trapped inside the shop all died.
It is believed Phoenix – as the bird has been named by Blackpool Council staff in honour of the mythical Greek firebird which rose from the ashes – had fallen into an air pocket which protected him from the intense heat and smoke.
The bird was found by demolition workers clearing the fire-ravaged Talbot Square site.
A council spokeswoman explained: "Demolition crews were working on the Clifton Street site when the bird simply popped its head out near a pile of rubble.
It was quite stunned and just sat there so the man was able to pick it up and carry it to safety.
"They handed it to one of our members of staff who put it in a cardboard box and took it to a vet."
Fiona Cummins, of the Mere Road Veterinary Practice, said Phoenix was in remarkable health considering its traumatic ordeal.
She said: "When the bird was brought to me I listened to its chest and found it was breathing normally.
"It was able to fly so its wings had obviously not been damaged and there was no real problem with it at all. The only evidence that it had been in the fire was a quantity of dust on its head and tail feathers."
Fire tore through Talbot Square's iconic Yates's building in the early hours of Sunday, February 15, leaving a £20m trail of destruction in its path.
The pet shop was destroyed together with a Subway sandwich shop and Wildcats lap dancing bar.
The tragic fate of the animals – which included birds, cats, rabbits and snakes – has moved many members of the public to leave floral tributes on Clifton Street.
It was thought none could have survived temperatures said to be between 700 and 1,000 celsius, until Phoenix was pulled from the rubble.
But Watch Manager Steve Palmer from South Shore fire station, who was at the scene in the aftermath of the blaze, said: "You'd be surprised what can survive very serious fires.
"We quite often recover pets from areas where you'd think nothing could stay alive. A few years back we pulled a tortoise out of a very serious house fire in Blackpool. Its shell was red hot, it burnt your hands to touch, but it just popped its head out as if nothing had happened and it lived.
"Dislodged masonry can offer protection from the heat and smoke. If this bird managed to get into one of these pockets then it could well have been shielded."
Phoenix is now being looked after by a council employee who has an aviary.
News of the survival has been met with amazement by councillors. Coun Henry Mitchell said: "The survival of the bird is incredible."
source
http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/black ... 5027651.jp
copyright the Blackpool Evening Gazzette
_________________
|
|
|