SIX homes were evacuated after a fierce shop fire threatened to engulf a row of terraced properties in Accrington.

An end-terrace double-fronted second-hand electrical goods shop in Blackburn Road was destroyed in the blaze, while a house next door was severely damaged.

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Its occupants, a family of four, were treated for smoke inhalation at the scene and have not been able to return to their home.

Yesterday, tape stretched across the two properties and signs warning people to keep out of the dangerous buildings were taped to their doors.

An investigation has been launched to discover the cause of the fire, which was reported to the emergency services at around 6.30am on Saturday.

Thirty fire fighters on six engines from across East Lancashire, including an aerial ladder platform, stopped the fire from spreading further than the two properties, on the corner of Russia Street, through the loft space.

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An off-duty nurse on her way home from shopping at Tesco has also been praised after caring for the family until paramedics arrived.

Oswaldtwistle resident Laurie Fielding, who is a nurse at Blackpool Victoria Hospital, also took care of the family’s frightened cat.

The 31-year-old mum-of-one said: “I was driving down Blackburn Road when I saw two fire engines and a hell of a lot of smoke.

“I saw two people stood there, a man with clothes on, and a woman wearing just a dressing gown and slippers.

“There was nobody with them because obviously the firefighters were busy, so I pulled over to see if there was anything I could do.”

Miss Fielding gave the woman, who was coughing and complaining of a sore throat, her mobile phone, coat, and scarf to use.

“She also asked if I could put her cat in my car, so I did that too,” she said.

Miss Fielding said the couple and their two children were hurt were treated at the scene, but did not need hospital treatment.

Hyndburn mayor and county councillor for Accrington, Coun Munsif Dad, said the family of Rafaqat Khan, who was seriously injured in an Accrington crash that killed two of his close friends earlier this year, was involved in running the shop.

He said: “The family has had bad luck in the past few months. I will try and speak to them today.

“I don’t know what involvement it was, but they had some in the shop.

“They worked there, ran it, or owned it.”

Coun Dad also lauded the efforts of both the fire service and Miss Fielding.

He said: “There are good people out there who do good things like this, and offer their support, and I praise that young lady for helping.

“In difficult times, people try and help.

“I could see how big the fire was. I believe quite a number of firefighters from surrounding areas were called. I would praise them for getting this fire under control quickly.”

A fire service spokesman said: “We would like to thank the nurse, Laurie Fielding, who tended to the occupants of the house next door until the arrival of the ambulance.

“The start of the fire is not yet known and is being investigated by the police and fire service.”

Six homes, between Russia Street and Swiss Street, were evacuated while firefighters wearing breathing apparatus tackled the fire.

The smell of smoke was still strong in the air yesterday, and there was a gaping hole in the roof of the damaged house.

Broken tiles also lay scattered across the front path.