THIS week marks 10 years since fire tore through historic buildings in the heart of Hereford.

The severe fire that gutted Alban House in High Town broke out in the early hours of the morning on October 21, 2010.

Firefighters were first alerted to the incident at 4.25am, and crews from Hereford were at the scene within minutes.

It soon became clear this call would go down in county history as the fire took hold in three four-storey buildings in High Town, some with great heritage importance.

There were 25 engines at the scene at the height of the fire, most of them from across Herefordshire, as well as support from Droitwich and Evesham.

Hereford Times: High Town was closed to the public as crews worked High Town was closed to the public as crews worked Hereford Times: Emergency services in High Town. Emergency services in High Town. Hereford Times: Firefighter Commanders outside The Card Factory. Firefighter Commanders outside The Card Factory.

As many as 60 firefighters in breathing apparatus helped tackle the fire, and two aerial ladder platforms, two aerial jets, eight firefighting jets and four hose reels were used, along with the compressed air foam system appliance. Urban search and rescue equipment was also used to gain access to premises during the course of the fire.

Speaking immediately after the blaze, Assistant Chief Fire Officer Tony Prosser said: “Fortunately the premises were unoccupied as the fire broke out and there was no one injured.

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“Fire officers were at the scene very quickly and were able to stop the fire spreading laterally, although it was a particularly complicated incident to tackle.”

But although the fire out, the saga was only just beginning as a series of problems hit would-be redevelopers at the site over the next eight years.

Hereford Times: Firefighters are lifted above the building Firefighters are lifted above the building Hereford Times: Smoke rises from the scene of the fire as seen from Hereford Cathedral. Smoke rises from the scene of the fire as seen from Hereford Cathedral. Hereford Times: A demolition vehicle arrives in High Town after the fire A demolition vehicle arrives in High Town after the fire

There was an ongoing battle over power provision to the site after an electricity sub-station was destroyed in the fire, then Saxon ramparts dating back to the late 9th century were discovered within the foundations, requiring careful archaeological assessment and chronicling by county experts.

Real change came after Elevate Property Group bought the site with its grade II façade in early 2017 and hoped to start work as soon as possible.

Now, 10 years on from the devastating blaze, the last hoardings are finally coming down and new occupants moving in to the 18 new homes at the site.