Washington hair salon owner thankful staff unhurt during blaze

Fire crews were on the site of DACCS Hair and Beauty salon for more than two hours as a blaze swept through the roof.

Chris Irwin, owner of the business, was in London when he got a call to say the building was ablaze.

He said: "I had a phone call to say there was a fire at the premises and there was smoke coming out of the roof.

"I am just thankful that everyone got out of the building and no-one is harmed, everything else can be sorted out."

Chris said they hold fire drills every week at the premises and the last one was on Friday, so everyone knew the exactly what to do to when the blaze broke out this afternoon.

Footage emerged of smoke coming from the upstairs of DACCS, which is in the Emmerson Terrace area of Washington.

Three engines were sent to the scene and the road was closed off as they tackled the blaze.

A spokeswoman for Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that the roof void was 30% damaged by the fire.

The first floor and the ground floor suffered 100% smoke damage.

Crews were called to the premises at 12.50pm and were on the scene until 2.30pm.

She said an investigation is ongoing into the cause of the fire.