Cannabis found in high street blaze
John Dickens • Published 17 Jan 2012 14:00
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CANNABIS plants have been found in two flats in Slough High Street after they were decimated by a fire this morning - causing more than 20 businesses to close.
Residents in the row of flats, in the east end of the High Street, were evacuated in the fire that ripped through two floors of the three-storey block.
The flats were empty when firefighters arrived at the scene at 7.20am. One man from a nearby flat was taken to Wexham Park Hospital for smoke inhalation but was later released. No one else was injured.
More than 20 shops on both sides of the street, including the Oxfam charity shop and Nando's, were forced to shut throughout the day over fears the building was not structurally safe.
A 250-metre section of the one-way road was also closed off to traffic and cordoned off to pedestrians. The road was due to be partially opened to traffic at around 2pm.
Fire crew from Slough, Langley and Maidenhead attended the incident and six firefighters, wearing breathing apparatus, extinguished the fire. Four hoses and thermal image heat cameras were also used.
The fire caused 80% damage to the ground and first floor of the building. Fire crew also used a crane to remove more than half of the flat's roof to deal with the fire.
Fast-food outlet Nando's were also providing packed lunches for fire crew and police officers. Firefighters left the scene at 1.10pm.
The police confirmed they are working with firefighters to ascertain the cause of the blaze.
This article appeared in Slough Observer 17 Jan 12
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