MASSIVE BLAZE RIPS THROUGH FORMER CINEMA AS LOCALS TOLD 'KEEP WINDOWS AND DOORS CLOSED'

A massive fire has ripped through a derelict cinema with people told to keep their window and doors closed.

Kent Fire and Rescue Service was called just at around 2pm to the former Odeon building St George's Place in Canterbury. They tackled the blaze using 15 fire engines for several hours.

And people living nearby were asked to keep doors and windows closed due to the amount of smoke coming from the building. there severity of the fire also led to a warning for people travelling through Canterbury to expect delays as nearby roads had to be closed off leading to diversions.

By 5pm a spokesperson for KFRS said it was making "good progress" extinguishing the fire using hose-reel jets.

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And then a further update at 6.30pm continued the same advice about not breathing in the fumes from the fire while people were also advised to share the advice with people who did not have access to the internet.

The statement read: "The earlier advice for people living or travelling near St George’s Place in Canterbury to keep windows and doors closed remains in place following a fire at a derelict building.

"15 fire engines and two height vehicles are at the scene, and firefighters wearing breathing apparatus are using hose reel jets to extinguish the seats of fire, as well as large fans to ventilate the building.

"The Volunteer Response Team is also in attendance to provide welfare support to crews. Please share this information with any loved ones in the area who may be affected but do not have access to the internet."

Meanwhile, guests and staff have been evacuated from a hotel as firefighters tackled a major blaze tonight. Fire crews were called to the Mercure hotel in Haydock at 7.25pm on Saturday, February 14 to reports of a blaze in a room.

Hotel guests sent footage from the scene as the hotel was evacuated, showing several fire engines outside the front of the hotel. Three fire engines arrived within four minutes of the call and there were also police at the scene.

A spokesperson for Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service said the fire was discovered on the first floor and was extinguished at 7.46pm. A full evacuation and roll call took place, with all persons accounted for.

2026-02-14T23:13:33Z