An investigation is under way after a fire in a bedroom at a controversial homeless hostel.
Fortunately nobody was injured at Richmond Court, Spital Walk, Boughton, after the fire service was called just before 7.40pm last night (Friday, April 24).
Two fire engines from Chester and a fire engine from Ellesmere Port attended the incident within a first floor flat at the 36-bed hostel, which was ‘well alight’.
Everyone had been evacuated by the time crews arrived including the male resident whose room was on fire.
Four firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used two hose-reels to extinguish the blaze which caused significant damage to the individual room but the rest of the hostel remained habitable.
A thermal imaging camera was used to check for hotspots. A large fan was employed to clear smoke from the property.
Police attended the scene. A fire investigation officer is looking into the cause of blaze.
John Marsland, dispersed properties and outreach service manager for Foundation Enterprises North West (FENW), which provides the service for Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWaC), did not wish to comment at this stage other than to confirm nobody had been injured and the cause was under investigation.
He said information would be circulated ‘as and when’ necessary.
Homeless accommodation used to be provided at Stoak Lodge in Ellesmere Port and at Roodee House, Grosvenor Street, in Chester city centre. CWaC’s decision to transfer the service from the city centre into the residential community of Boughton proved controversial.
Roodee House, previously owned by Muir Housing, is currently being converted into luxury apartments.
