Residents on a "usually quiet" residential street in Worksop have spoken of their shock after being awoken by a "dramatic" fire in the early hours of the morning. Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service was called to the blaze, in a derelict nursing home on Sherwood Road, at around 4.30am on Sunday (February 19).
Crews described the incident as a "large building fire". Six fire engines were in attendance, along with a water bowser and aerial ladder platform (ALP).
There are no reports of any injuries. The cause of the blaze is yet to be established.
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Gary Russell, 58, of nearly Portland Place, told Nottingahmshire Live: "I heard a loud bang. I got up, looked out of my window and saw the fire. It was bad. I phoned the fire service.
"The building used to be a nursing home and must have closed around 12 years ago.
"I hope nobody has been injured and everyone is thankful to the emergency services. You don't expect this on a Sunday morning."
Mary and Daniel Tomlinson, 62 and 61 respectively, of Portland Place, said they were woken up in the early hours by a "snap, crackle, pop" sound and looked out of their window to see "huge flames".
They live close to the building and had to go to a relative's house but are now back at their home. "It's all very dramatic," added Daniel.
Some other residents also had to leave their properties and were accommodated at a Premier Inn hotel, the couple said. Paul Harrison, 82, of Portland Place, said he heard a "loud bang" and looked out of his window and saw flames "up to 40ft high".
He added: "Nobody wants to experience this on a Sunday morning or indeed at any time. They (the emergency services) have been doing a great job.
"We await news of the cause of the fire." Another resident, who asked not be named, said: "It's usually such a quiet street."
Speaking to Nottinghamshire Live at the scene, incident commander and station manager Jim Dykes, of the fire service, said: "Upon arrival, crews found a well-developed fire. We're damping down now.
"There are no reports of any injuries - nobody was in the property when we arrived. We will be here for some time."
Shortly before 9am, a fire service spokesperson said: "We are scaling the incident down to three fire engines, the water bowser and ALP. Please stay away from the area while we go about our work.
"A fire investigation will take place tomorrow into the cause."
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