Structural engineers will decide later today if any more of the former John Player factory needs to be demolished.
Firefighters from across the East Midlands have been battling the blaze, which started last Monday afternoon (March 30) but have struggled to reach the fire.
Demolition experts have already safely demolished a quarter of the factory to help firefighters gain access to the fire and will assess if any more needs to be knocked down later today.
- The player’s building has been around since 1884 .
- Traditionally one of Nottingham’s largest employers.
- John Player and Sons’ cigarettes originally produced there.
- It has been recently been developed into student accommodation.
Nick Hopkins, the Incident Commander for the Player Street fire, said: “It has been a severe fire that has been difficult for us to deal with as we’ve had difficulty accessing the fire.
“We’re keen to resolve the incident as it’s tying up a lot of Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service’s resources. However it’s vitally important that we do this in the safest possible manner.”
More than 50 firefighters and three aerial ladder platforms have been tackling the blaze, with operations continuing through the night.
Mr Hopkins added: “We envisage in the next four to five days the fire will be extinguished but there may still be demolition work going on after that.”
No one has been injured in the fire but 24 students, from both Nottingham universities, have had to be evacuated from there student accommodation.
A fundraising page has raised over £1200 for the displaced students so far, after many were left with only the clothes on their back.
The fire has been burning for more than 200 hours now and has caused widespread disruption in Nottingham. The roads around the area are beginning to open but parts of Player Street and Radford Boulevard remain closed.
