Fire at Warburtons Bakery in Burnley

May 4, 2026, 16:41
UKOther

Introduction

A big fire happened at a Warburtons bakery in Burnley. Many fire trucks went to help.

Main Body

The fire started at 2:45 PM. Twelve fire teams arrived. The fire burned the roof and some trucks. There was a lot of smoke. The city told people to close their windows. All workers left the building safely. No one was hurt. The company does not know why the fire started. They do not know how much damage there is. David Fishwick saw the fire from his helicopter. He told the police. He said he can fly hurt people to the hospital if they need help.

Conclusion

Firefighters are still at the bakery. They want to find the cause of the fire.

Learning

πŸ•’ The 'Past' Trick

Most of the story uses Past Simple. This is how we talk about things that are finished.

Look at these changes:

  • happen β†’\rightarrow happened
  • start β†’\rightarrow started
  • arrive β†’\rightarrow arrived
  • burn β†’\rightarrow burned

The Rule: Just add -ed to the end of the action word to move it to the past.

🚫 Saying 'No' in the Past

When we want to say something did not happen, we use did not + the normal word.

  • Wrong: They did not knew Γ—\times
  • Right: They did not know βœ“\checkmark

Notice that "know" stays in its simple form because "did" already tells us it is the past.

πŸ’‘ Key A2 Words from the Story

WordMeaningExample
SafelyWithout dangerThe workers left safely.
CauseThe reason whyThey want to find the cause.
DamageHarm to thingsHow much damage is there?

Vocabulary Learning

fire (n.)
an uncontrolled flame that burns
Example:The fire destroyed the bakery.
trucks (n.)
vehicles that carry goods
Example:Fire trucks arrived quickly.
roof (n.)
the top covering of a building
Example:The fire burned the roof.
smoke (n.)
visible gas from burning
Example:There was a lot of smoke.
city (n.)
a large town with many buildings
Example:The city told people to close windows.
people (n.)
human beings
Example:People were safe during the fire.
windows (n.)
openings in walls for light or air
Example:Close the windows to keep smoke out.
workers (n.)
people who do a job
Example:All workers left the building safely.
building (n.)
a structure with walls and a roof
Example:The building was still standing after the fire.
hurt (v.)
to cause injury or pain
Example:No one was hurt during the evacuation.
company (n.)
a business that sells goods or services
Example:The company is investigating the cause.
damage (n.)
harm or loss caused by an event
Example:The damage to the bakery is severe.
helicopter (n.)
a flying machine with rotating blades
Example:The helicopter watched the fire from above.
police (n.)
law enforcement officers
Example:The police were called to the scene.
hospital (n.)
a place where people receive medical care
Example:They can fly people to the hospital if needed.
cause (n.)
the reason something happens
Example:They want to find the cause of the fire.
firefighters (n.)
people who fight fires
Example:Firefighters are still at the bakery.
close (v.)
to shut or bring together
Example:Close your windows to keep smoke out.
help (v.)
to assist or support
Example:They went to help the injured.
started (v.)
to begin or commence
Example:The fire started at 2:45 PM.