Firefighters taken to hospital

At the height of the fire, 14 engines were present

Nine firefighters were taken to hospital on Tuesday night after tackling a fire where chemical drums had been set alight.

At the height of the fire, at the old bakery opposite Lytham hospital on the Fylde, 14 fire engines were at the scene.

The firefighters were treated for the effects of breathing in toxic fumes and were unable to return to duty.

Officers said services elsewhere on the coast were severely stretched as a result.

Acrid burning

Assistant Divisional Officer, Barry Shelmerdine from Blackpool Fire Station said the crew realised there was something unusual as soon as they started to tackle the fire.

"We could taste something in the smoke," he said.

"It was acrid, burning the lips and throat.

"On closer inspection of the bonfire officers saw the chemical drums. The officers then withdrew but by that time nine had become contaminated."

Elsewhere in Lancashire on Tuesday night, a semi-detached bungalow was destroyed in a fire at Holts Lane in Poulton-le-Fylde but no-one was injured, and a woman was rescued from another house fire at Ariel Way in Fleetwood.