Crews close Preston Street after St Joseph's Orphanage fire

The scene of the fire at St Joseph's on Monday night — The scene of the fire at St Joseph’s on Monday night

An investigation is ongoing following a fire at an abandoned and recognizable Preston building.

Crews were called to St Joseph’s Orphanage in Mount Street, Preston, at around 9.47pm last night (November 4). Six fire trucks arrived at the scene and used four jets to bring the fire under control by 2am.

Mount Street was closed overnight and emergency services are expected to remain at the scene. The cause of the fire at St Joseph’s, which also experienced high-profile fires in 2023 and 2022, is currently under investigation.

A spokesman for Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service said: “Six fire engines from Preston, Fulwood, Bamber Bridge, Chorley, Leyland and Penwortham, as well as two ladder platforms from Blackpool and Preston, were involved in a fire at a derelict building in Mount Street, Preston.” joined.

“Fire crews used four jets to bring the fire under control. By 2:00 in the morning, the fire was reduced to one fire truck and two ALPs.

“Mount Street will remain closed throughout the night and firefighters will remain at the scene until the morning. While there were no injuries, the cause of the fire is being investigated.”

Crews close Preston Street after St Joseph’s Orphanage fire — The scene of the fire at St Joseph’s on Monday night

St Joseph’s Orphanage opened in Preston in 1872. The orphanage was run by the Sisters of Charity (Our Lady of Mercy) and a chapel was added in 1910.

By 1988, the orphanage was closed and the building was converted into a care home, which operated until 2003.

The building has been in disrepair since then. Proposals to redevelop the majority of the site into apartments and townhouses were approved in 2020.

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