Fire breaks out on stricken ship

The ferry ran aground in January

Demolition workers were moved off a stricken ferry grounded on a beach near Blackpool after a fire on board.

The blaze broke out in a tractor unit of a lorry in the hold of the Riverdance, which ran aground off the Lancashire coast in January.

Fire crews had to withdraw from the ship off Cleveleys when the tide rose, but say the fire is believed to be out.

A spark from cutting equipment used by the 30-strong team of contractors is believed to have caused the fire.

The fire started on the ship, which is on its side and has sunk into the sand, at about 0420 BST.

No-one was injured and about 30 workmen were moved off the vessel.

I do believe that we have managed to quell the fire as there are no visible signs from the shoreline Lancashire Fire Service spokesman

Fire crews from Fleetwood, Bispham, Blackpool and St Annes were sent to the scene and a team were due to go back on board at about 1500 BST.

Bispham station manager Mark Alderson said: "I do believe that we have managed to quell the fire as there are no visible signs from the shoreline, but due to the position of the ship and its distance from the shoreline it is difficult to be totally sure.

"Contractors have plans in place to prevent ignition from their work but they are of course using hot cutting equipment and this risk can never totally be eliminated.

"Agencies including the police, coastguard, contractors and ourselves have worked closely together to put in place plans to deal with any incident like this.

The Riverdance is stuck fast on its side in the sand

"Our response this morning was part of this plan."

The spokesman said residents were never in any danger and urged people to stay out of the security cordons.

The Riverdance had been heading from Northern Ireland to Heysham, Lancashire, when it was hit by a freak wave on 31 January.

Twenty-three people, including four passengers, were rescued by the RAF from the stricken vessel.

Tourists flocked to the area for the sight of the sinking, tilted ship while the authorities tried to decide what to do with it.

Although it was initially hoped the ferry could be refloated, the decision was taken to break it up.

Salvagers started preparatory work to dismantle the ship, which was expected to take 12 to 14 weeks, on 2 May.

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