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Croydon self-storage warehouse destroyed in blaze | Croydon self-storage warehouse destroyed in blaze |
(about 3 hours later) | |
A self-storage warehouse has been destroyed in a blaze with many people facing the loss of their belongings. | A self-storage warehouse has been destroyed in a blaze with many people facing the loss of their belongings. |
Dozens of firefighters are continuing to tackle the fire at the unit in south London. | Dozens of firefighters are continuing to tackle the fire at the unit in south London. |
At its height on New Year's Eve, the whole of the four-storey warehouse in Purley Way, Croydon, was ablaze, with up to 120 firefighters tackling it. | At its height on New Year's Eve, the whole of the four-storey warehouse in Purley Way, Croydon, was ablaze, with up to 120 firefighters tackling it. |
Shurgard self-storage told its customers it was "highly unlikely" any items would be salvaged. | |
About 70 firefighters remain at the scene as the fire, which has been contained, continues to burn. No one has been hurt in the blaze. | About 70 firefighters remain at the scene as the fire, which has been contained, continues to burn. No one has been hurt in the blaze. |
Marianna Georgiou, 51, had all of her belongings in the self-storage unit because she had temporarily moved in with her daughter in Mitcham after being made redundant. | |
Ms Georgiou, who works in retail, said: "I cannot believe it. Thirty years of my whole life has just gone in an instant." | |
"Someone called my daughter at 11:45 GMT last night and said, 'Doesn't your mum store her stuff there?' She [the caller] could see the flames from her bedroom window." | |
"I've literally got the clothes I'm wearing and my car," she added. | |
"I got made redundant last year from my job so I gave up my home so I put everything in storage." | |
"Furniture is furniture, but it's the memories and the sentimental things that you cannot replace," she said. | |
Giacomo Malvermi told BBC London he heard about the fire while at a New Year's Eve party. | |
He had been using the warehouse to store personal belongings as well as his stock of vintage pinball machines he had restored for his business, Pinball Creative. | |
"It's taken me many years to accumulate these pinball machines, which are both rare and vintage," he said. | |
"All the stock that's gone - we're talking pinball machines from the Sixties, Seventies - I don't think I'll ever be able to replace them. | |
"That's me over, that's my business gone." | |
In an email sent to customers seen by the BBC, the company said: "We will assist you in contacting insurance companies regarding a possible compensation. | |
"Further instructions with regards to the insurance claims will be shared by email or letter as well. | |
"We are devastated by this event and we sympathize with your loss. Please accept our sincerest apologies." | |
Graham Ellis, assistant commissioner of London Fire Brigade, said it was "challenging" to contain the fire. | Graham Ellis, assistant commissioner of London Fire Brigade, said it was "challenging" to contain the fire. |
"Self-storage units are generally full of items like furniture which when packed tightly provide a lot of materials to burn and so these sorts of incidents tend to create large fires that burn hard for a long time, creating a lot of smoke," he said. | "Self-storage units are generally full of items like furniture which when packed tightly provide a lot of materials to burn and so these sorts of incidents tend to create large fires that burn hard for a long time, creating a lot of smoke," he said. |
"Firefighters have worked hard to ensure that while the fire is burning, it is contained and won't spread to nearby buildings." | "Firefighters have worked hard to ensure that while the fire is burning, it is contained and won't spread to nearby buildings." |
Local residents have been warned to keep windows and doors shut, with drivers urged to avoid the area after roads were closed. | Local residents have been warned to keep windows and doors shut, with drivers urged to avoid the area after roads were closed. |
The brigade was called at 19:47 GMT on New Year's Eve and at the fire's peak, 20 fire engines and about 120 firefighters were at the scene. | The brigade was called at 19:47 GMT on New Year's Eve and at the fire's peak, 20 fire engines and about 120 firefighters were at the scene. |
The cause of the fire is not yet known. | The cause of the fire is not yet known. |