Firefighters from South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue are tackling a large fire at a derelict mosque in Sheffield this evening (Thursday 17th April)

Crews were quickly on the scene after receiving a call at around 18.30, and arrived to find the majority of the building, on Vincent Road in Sharrow, well alight.

At the height of the blaze over 40 firefighters were involved in the incident, with two ALPs (Aerial Ladder Platform) used to tackle the fire, which is under control.

Around 20 homes were evacuated as a precaution (approx 50 residents). Most of those affected went to relatives’ homes, and some were accommodated at a local mosque.

Group Manager Darren Staniland said at 9.30pm: “The fire is under control but our crews are likely to be here until the early hours at least. We would obviously urge people not to travel close to the area, as Abbeydale Road and some surrounding roads are closed to traffic.”

Crews from Central, Darnall, Mansfield Road, Edlington, Lowedges, Mosborough and Barnsley are involved in the incident.

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No further update will be available on this incident until 7.30am on Friday, when you can contact Corporate Communications on 0114 253 2415

Men Rescued From Well

Firefighters from South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue have rescued two men from a well at a derelict school site in Sheffield.

The two men were working on the site, on Daniel Hill in the Upperthorpe area, when the ground beneath them collapsed and they fell into the 40ft-deep well shaft.

Another workman on the site raised the alarm, at around 11:15am, after hearing the men shouting for help.  Six fire & rescue crews (around 30 firefighters) from Sheffield and Rotherham fire stations, including a specialist Technical Rescue Unit, attended the scene.

Once the men had been located, a firefighter was lowered into the well using specialist rescue equipment.  By around 12:45pm, both men had been rescued.  They were both conscious on being removed from the well and were immediately attended to by paramedics before being transported to hospital.

Further updates and details of the casualties will be published on this page when they become available.

Free Detectors Raise The Alarm

Smoke alarms fitted by South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue (SYFR) helped to save an elderly Doncaster woman’s house after she left a pan on the stove on Thursday morning.

The 83-year-old from Welfare Road, Woodlands, had gone out to the shops, leaving the pan of potatoes to boil dry and catch fire at around 11.30am. However, neighbours heard the woman’s smoke alarms, which had been fitted for free by SYFR, and dialled 999. Firefighters from Adwick were quickly on the scene and able to put out the blaze before it could spread to the property itself.

Watch Manager Barrie Newton said: “This lady was extremely lucky her smoke alarms activated. The early warning meant we were able to arrive in time to restrict the fire to the food, pan and cooker. If it had been allowed to burn for much longer there was a risk of much more serious damage to the house.”

Firefighters using breathing apparatus put out the blaze, which caused only minor damage to the kitchen.

*To get a free home fire safety check, and free fitted smoke alarms if required, call (0114) 253 2314.