Roof of Darwen house destroyed in early morning fire

Three fire engines from Darwen and Blackburn attended the blaze on Marabou Drive in Darwen at around 2am today (Monday, March 4).

One resident, living close to Marabou Drive, said he heard what he thought was "an explosion" at around 2am, and looked out of his window to see flames in the distance.

The fire from nearby Duddon Avenue (Image: Public)

The resident, who did not want to be named, said: "There was a loud bang, which I thought sounded like an explosion, it woke me up.

"I didn't really know what it was and didn't think much of it but I looked out of the window and saw flames and blue flashing lights."

Fire crews and police at the scene of the fire on Marabou Street, Darwen (Image: NQ Staff)

Six firefighters using breathing apparatus tackled the fire, which according to neighbours, "was out within half an hour".

However, the blaze had already ripped through the bungalow-style property, which is believed to be pre-fabricated in construction.

Fire crews remained on scene on Monday morning, with the police's crime scene investigators due at the site to carry out a joint investigation with the fire service so they could determine the cause of the fire.

It is believed there was one man living in the fire-ravaged house, but following police and fire service searches, officers confirmed with the Lancashire Telegraph that there was no-one in the property at the time of the fire. 

Sources close to the investigation have told the Lancashire Telegraph the property was being used for the cultivation of cannabis.The fire on Marabou Street, Darwen, which shows the roof of the house destroyed (Image: NQ Staff)

No other residents needed to be evacuated from their homes as a result of the fire, and the flames had not spread to any neighbouring properties.

A cordon was put in place at the top of Marabou Drive, but this has since been removed. 

No injuries have been reported. 

One resident, who did not wish to be named, said: "The first we knew about it was when we woke up this morning, at 7.30am.

"We sleep at the back of the house, so didn't really hear anything. 

"We don't really know who was living in the property either."

The fire on Marabou Street, Darwen, which shows the roof of the house destroyed (Image: NQ Staff)

Another resident, who also wanted to remain anonymous, said: "It's very quiet round here, nothing like this usually happens.

"I only know the man living there to say hello to, he generally keeps himself to himself."

Meanwhile, a third neighbour said she saw and heard a commotion at around 2am, and commented that the fire crews were "very good" and had the fire out "within half an hour". 

A spokesperson for the fire service said: "Three fire engines from Darwen and Blackburn fire station attended a house fire on Marabou Drive, Darwen.

"Firefighters used six breathing apparatus and three main jets to extinguish the fire.

"Crews are still at the scene this morning and the cause of the fire is under investigation."

A spokesperson for the police said: "We were called by the fire service at shortly before 3am today (Monday, March 4) to reports of a fire at an address on Marabou Drive, Darwen.

"A joint investigation into the cause is ongoing with Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service and enquiries remain at an early stage."

Anyone with information should contact us on 101 quoting log 0099 of March 4.