The former Church of St John the Evangelist, Blackburn, now the Bureau Centre for the Arts, has been the subject of a major fire.
The 1789 Grade II-listed building is the oldest church in the town and was deconsecrated in 1975. Firefighters fought to save its stained glass windows and original features but could not remain inside due to the imminent collapse of timber-framed balconies and roof trusses.
As the IHBC Annual School approaches (focusing on confronting conservation calamities), another major fire hits a historic building. Like many historic building fires this was not a big country house or a major cathedral with fire management plans in place, pre-existing liaison with the fire service or procedures for the removal of important artefacts. But it is still devastating to those involved with the building and the community. Conservation and built environment professionals will be at the forefront of dealing with what to do in the aftermath of disaster.