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| Explosions in 'huge' scrap blaze | Explosions in 'huge' scrap blaze |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A scrap yard fire has caused a huge plume of black smoke seen "from miles around" and numerous explosions. | A scrap yard fire has caused a huge plume of black smoke seen "from miles around" and numerous explosions. |
| Fifteen cars caught alight at the Forton Industrial Estate in Gosport, Hampshire, at about 1330 GMT. | Fifteen cars caught alight at the Forton Industrial Estate in Gosport, Hampshire, at about 1330 GMT. |
| Local councillor Peter Edgar said it was "like the Blitz" with dozens of "loud bangs" which he believed were the cars' fuel tanks exploding. | Local councillor Peter Edgar said it was "like the Blitz" with dozens of "loud bangs" which he believed were the cars' fuel tanks exploding. |
| The fire service said the cause was not yet clear. Police have told people to keep windows and doors shut. | The fire service said the cause was not yet clear. Police have told people to keep windows and doors shut. |
| About 100 people have been evacuated from Lear Road and Kings Road and taken to Thorngate Halls. | About 100 people have been evacuated from Lear Road and Kings Road and taken to Thorngate Halls. |
| Residents are advised to shut windows. Photo by Jonathon Savill Your pictures: Scrap yard blaze | Residents are advised to shut windows. Photo by Jonathon Savill Your pictures: Scrap yard blaze |
| Councillor Edgar said: "There is billowing smoke going up hundreds of feet in the air. | |
| "You can hear the explosions, obviously the vehicles' fuel tanks are going up, it is quite spectacular like the Blitz when I lived here. | "You can hear the explosions, obviously the vehicles' fuel tanks are going up, it is quite spectacular like the Blitz when I lived here. |
| "There are loud bangs every few seconds. There doesn't look to be any risk to neighbouring buildings. | "There are loud bangs every few seconds. There doesn't look to be any risk to neighbouring buildings. |
| "I have seldom seen such intensity of smoke." | "I have seldom seen such intensity of smoke." |
| Eyewitness James Hardiman was about four miles away but said "whatever it is, it is huge". | Eyewitness James Hardiman was about four miles away but said "whatever it is, it is huge". |
| A Hampshire Fire and Rescue spokeswoman said there were no reports of injuries. | A Hampshire Fire and Rescue spokeswoman said there were no reports of injuries. |
| She added: "There have been a number of explosions. | She added: "There have been a number of explosions. |
| "Our crews have been forced to move positions due to the fire's severity." | "Our crews have been forced to move positions due to the fire's severity." |
| Smoke was seen "hundreds of feet in the air". Photo by Faye Jones | Smoke was seen "hundreds of feet in the air". Photo by Faye Jones |
| She said seven jet hoses were being used to tackle the blaze, which was now under control. | She said seven jet hoses were being used to tackle the blaze, which was now under control. |
| About 40 firefighters are at the scene dealing with incident. | About 40 firefighters are at the scene dealing with incident. |
| Police have asked members of the public living on the eastern side of Gosport to keep their windows and doors closed. | Police have asked members of the public living on the eastern side of Gosport to keep their windows and doors closed. |
| A spokesman also advised people to avoid going into the centre of the town to allow access to emergency vehicles. | A spokesman also advised people to avoid going into the centre of the town to allow access to emergency vehicles. |