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'Massive' factory fire in Leicester under control | 'Massive' factory fire in Leicester under control |
(35 minutes later) | |
Fire investigators are trying to determine the cause of a factory fire in Leicester that resulted in the evacuation of 140 people. | |
Firefighters are damping down after the blaze in the Belgrave area of the city on Monday afternoon. | |
Some households are still experiencing power cuts, but most residents have returned to their homes. | |
Explosions were heard during the fire but no-one was injured, fire officials said. Some roads remain closed. | |
'Gas explosions' | |
The fire started in Abbey Mills, off Ross Walk, at about 14:00 GMT on Monday. | |
Leicestershire Fire and Rescue said the fire was "contained", but crews remained at the scene. | |
Updates on this story and more from Leicestershire | Updates on this story and more from Leicestershire |
"Engineers from Western Power are at the scene working to restore electricity as soon as possible," a fire official said. | |
At the height of the blaze, water was taken from a nearby canal to help tackle the flames, and dozens of onlookers were moved on by police because of the "toxic" smoke being given off. | |
Leicestershire Fire Service station manager Michael Rogers said: "A small amount of water has run off into the canal but it is locked at both sides, so the pollution is contained. | |
"Explosions (in the factory) were predominantly down to small gas bottles that were sited at different places throughout the building, but nobody has been hurt." | |
Eyewitness Ronak Jason Kamat said: "All we could see were plumes of smoke. But things soon escalated and more flames became visible." | |
Roads that remain closed are Abbey Park Street, Olphin Street, Moorgate Street, Westbourne Street, Kensington Street and Marjorie Street. | Roads that remain closed are Abbey Park Street, Olphin Street, Moorgate Street, Westbourne Street, Kensington Street and Marjorie Street. |
Smoke could be seen from Bradgate Park, about five miles (8 km) away. | |