Apr 24 2009
The real cause of the Blackpool fire revealed - thank you Google News
The town of Blackpool, Lancashire prides itself on being one of the remaining areas of the UK to be completely made from wood.
Well, it’s a bit misleading: there’s probably a whole load of polystyrene and cardboard in there as well to reinforce some of the more rickety structures.
Still, the recent fire which has caused over 200 residents to be evacuated may come as no surprise to many. Earlier this year it was the North Pier, and today it was a Talbot Road construction site that set afire. Thankfully, as last time, nobody is seriously harmed as far as we know, and residents are taking refuge in Stanley Park Sports Centre.
But what caused this blaze? Arsonists? Kids frying ants with magnifying glasses? Freak forest fires?
Fingers will automatically point at flamethrowers from the nearby pier funfair — they really should stay away from wooden structures during their act — but evidence points to that Internet superpower and search engine giant. Yes, it’s Google… maybe. Behold their news page from yesterday.
Now, you may suggest that this is but an innocent pun on the fact that St George supposedly slayed a fire-breathing dragon, but I think there is something a bit more sinister going on here. Check out the linked news article: with that kind of intro text, you might think there may have been a barbecue or roast to celebrate the occasion - nothing of the sort.
Remember this story was published hours before the fire began. Now, I am not suggesting that a certain member of the Blackpool Gazette may or may not have arsonist tendencies, but my detective instincts lead me to think there’s something fishy going on. Chippy fishy.
