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'Major' fire closes Staines town centre | 'Major' fire closes Staines town centre |
(35 minutes later) | |
A "major" fire has closed Staines town centre after a blaze broke out in several industrial units. | A "major" fire has closed Staines town centre after a blaze broke out in several industrial units. |
Homes have been evacuated and about 100 firefighters were tackling the blaze at the Renshaw Industrial Estate. | |
Surrey Fire and Rescue Service said the fire, which broke out shortly after midnight, is now under control and the number of crews have been scaled back. | |
Specialist officers are expected to remain at the scene for most of the day. | |
Surrey Police tweeted the town centre was closed to traffic due to the "major" fire and urged drivers to avoid the area. | |
There were also reports from the public of an explosion when the fire first broke out. | |
South East Coast Ambulance service has mobilised its hazardous area response team but said there were no casualties reported. | |
Residents still in their homes were told to stay indoors with the doors and windows closed after the fire broke out at the estate in Mill Mead at about 00:15 GMT. | Residents still in their homes were told to stay indoors with the doors and windows closed after the fire broke out at the estate in Mill Mead at about 00:15 GMT. |
BBC Travel reports said the A308 Staines High Street had been closed in both directions since about 03:00 GMT with diversions in operation and bus services also affected. | BBC Travel reports said the A308 Staines High Street had been closed in both directions since about 03:00 GMT with diversions in operation and bus services also affected. |
On Twitter, passers-by described black smoke covering the town and the industrial estate "in flames". | On Twitter, passers-by described black smoke covering the town and the industrial estate "in flames". |
About 20 people were moved from their homes to a local rest centre. It is not yet known when they can return. | |
A spokesman for the fire service said: "It has been necessary to put some precautionary measures in place, with a number of residents being evacuated to a local rest centre." | A spokesman for the fire service said: "It has been necessary to put some precautionary measures in place, with a number of residents being evacuated to a local rest centre." |
He added they were working with police, the ambulance service, the council and the Environment Agency to bring the situation under control. | He added they were working with police, the ambulance service, the council and the Environment Agency to bring the situation under control. |
The fire service told BBC Surrey the fire started in one unit and spread to two or three. | The fire service told BBC Surrey the fire started in one unit and spread to two or three. |
The cause of the blaze is not yet known. | |