Blackpool Tower ‘fire’ turns out to be flapping orange fabric
A man has been arrested after early reports of Blackpool Tower being on fire transpired to be video footage of orange netting blowing in the wind. The Welcome to Blackpool tourist information service had earlier written that ‘the fire brigade with climbing gear are on their way up now’. Fire crews were called to the Promenade at about 2.15pm on Thursday as flames appeared to be visible near the viewing platform. But about two hours later it turned out the blaze was, in fact, fabricated: it was instead a piece of windswept netting mimicking the sight of a blaze
40 comments
What an absolute flap
I do like Fire, but I also like Flapping orange fabric…
But which one is better??
Only one way to find out…
FIIIGHHTT!!
– Harry Hill
Doesn’t anyone own binoculars in Blackpool? Instead of 6 fire appliances and a helicopter being deployed! Some people!
A fabricated web of lies ps wan't a stick of rock
Love the intellect of the Guardian news team, first rumours indicated it was a multi-coloured flag fluttering in the breeze.
Someone having a laugh? It is actually funny. Or do I have a weird sense of humour?
No smoke and the things made from metal
That’s funny! 😅
The fact that this became news is another story
This is why I am always telling women NOT to wear orange dresses, men not to wear orange jumpers or hats etc. People might think you are on fire
No wonder the emergency services especially the ambulance service, are stretched responding to calls from people who can't tell the difference between waving orange material and flames!!
It doesnt even look like a fire. Theres no smoke for one.
Arrested for what ??? Being a concerned human being ???
the prank patrol reboot looks great
Legend
we live in a sitcom
Not exactly the smartest move by the emergency services, use a pair of binoculars, go up and confirm, my goodness…
Absolute specimens in Blackpool thinking that this was fire 😅
i think getting arrested for mistaking a fire is a little harsh, and unfair even if it was a waste of reasources it could have been a fire, better safe than sorry not worth an arrest.
wow seriously breaking news
That’s how boring it is up north 😂🤣😂🤣
Just shows you the idiocy levels of this country. Absolute smoothbrains everywhere
So any prank is a preach of the peace. Police state lads.
Well today in Spain is The Day of the Innocents. Which is more or less the same as April Fools Day
British news moment
The fact this made is to the news on multiple platforms is far more interesting than the story itself
If it was a fire how did they get people down can't use a lift in a fire or didn't mention people were on bottom level
no smoke without?
"The blaze was "fabricated"", thats a great pun lol
This is embarrassing to the people of England 😂no smoke?😂
Where there's smoke, there's ….. oh
It legit looked like it could be a fire, not entirely sure why someone was arrested for saying it might be.
Slow news day
Why the news so extreme 😂
My question is how did the fabric get up there ? 🧐
Pretty much sums up this country 😂
🥴🤦🤷😏
Firstly it was a panic and sky news said, "Blaze breaks out in Blackpool!" panic panic panic, oh turns out it isn't a fire. Shows the news isn't trustworthy, they reported and broadcasted a confirmed fire when it hadn't even been investigated.
It doesn't say why the guy was arrested though if he did in fact think there was a fire. Does this mean we should stop reporting suspected fires?
But… you would see that there's no smoke, right?