A man in his 40s has died in a fire in Kirkby Lonsdale.
Cumbria police were contacted by Cumbria Fire & Rescue Service at 5.45am yesterday, Sunday December 8 after they were called to a blaze at apartments opposite the Red Dragon pub on Main Street.
The man was found in the three-storey property where the fire started and was declared dead at the scene at around 6.30am.
Cumbria police said his family had been notified.
There is one other casualty, a man who went to the Lancaster Royal Infirmary with minor injuries and to be checked for potential smoke inhalation.
There are not believed to be any other casualties or injuries as a result of this incident at this time.
Emergency services remained in attendance at the scene late yesterday and through the night and are working with other agencies to deal with this incident.
A number of people are affected. There is a reception centre in place at the Methodist Church in Queen Square and plans are already underway to secure accommodation and support for anyone who cannot return to their home, Cumbria police said last night.
Main Street in Kirkby Lonsdale remains closed and likely to remain closed for some time while emergency services, including Cumbria Fire and Rescue, police and the local authority, continue work at the scene.
It is expected road closures will remain in place for the coming few days and diversion routes will be put in place and signposted.
People living in the town are asked to continue to keep doors and windows closed.
People are urged not to travel into the town at this time, however the police said further updates will be provided as soon as possible so that the local community and businesses are supported at this sensitive time.
Superintendent Paddy O’Hara, as chair of the Strategic Co-ordinating Group overseeing the response to the fire, said: “The cause of the fire is presently unknown.
“Investigators from both Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service and Cumbria Constabulary are on hand to enter the building as soon as it is safe to do so.
“I’d like to thank the emergency services personnel and our partner agencies for all their hard work in Kirkby Lonsdale today, and the local community for their patience.”
75 firefighters and 10 crews were called to the incident on Sunday morning, plus the aerial ladders from Carlisle and Barrow.
Six of the crews are from Cumbria and four from Lancashire.
Louise Parr, of Rainhill, was staying at the Snooty Fox with a party of four. She was sent home and have had to leave belongings in the hotel.
She was planning to return today, Monday, to pick them up.
A number of properties were without water yesterday morning due to the blaze and the fire service began pumping water from the River Lune to help tackle the blaze.
