"Mr Finch said he was "having food and watching cartoons" with his 10-year-old daughter when he was alerted to the fire, which he said overwhelmed the building in "less than 15 minutes". He tried to battle the blaze, which had started accidentally in a storage area at the back of the shop, according to the London Fire Brigade (LFB)."
"The family had to escape across the flat roof at the front of the shop, with Mr Finch lowering his daughter and dog into the arms of people on the street. His mother, Angela, and father, Frank, came home from a nearby pub and could only watch as 100 firefighters tried to extinguish the fire and prevent it spreading. By the time it was under control, just before midnight, there was only a charred shell and wreckage left of the business."
Finches Emporium on Perry Vale, Forest Hill, operated as a family-run ski and sports shop since 1947. A fire started accidentally in a storage area at the back of the shop on 16 October and overwhelmed the building within minutes. The family lived above the shop; Bradley Finch escaped with his 10-year-old daughter and dog by lowering them to people on the street, while his parents watched as firefighters battled the blaze. Around 100 firefighters extinguished the fire by just before midnight, leaving only a charred shell and wreckage. Local businesses and the community have rallied to raise funds, and the family has pledged to rebuild the business.
Read at www.bbc.com
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