Staines: Huge plume of smoke as fire engulfs tower block
Picture credits: Al Cena
The flames are ablaze atop a building in the center of town.
According to a report from BBC News, the South East region...
Firefighters fought a fire in the middle of a town in Surrey where a big cloud of smoke could be seen.
The person who owns the building explained that the fire, which occurred at the top of a 14-story building, was caused by welding happening on the roof.
Surrey Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) reported that eight fire trucks responded to a fire in Staines town center at 12:35 BST.
A fire started close to the Tothill multi-storey car park on Elmsleigh Road, at a building that is currently being built and is empty.
Picture credit goes to Richard Holmes
From the ground, a big cloud of smoke was visible going up high into the air.
People who live nearby are being told not to go near the place and to keep their windows shut.
Surrey Police stated that Thames Street was shut down from South Street to Church Street and that they were present, assisting the fire department at the location.
The fire department also mentioned that Riverside Gardens, Clarence Street, and Staines bridge are currently closed.
A representative mentioned that the fire is now being managed, but firefighters anticipate being at the location for an extended period of time.
They confirmed that everyone was safe, but paramedics checked four people for breathing in smoke. One person had to go to the hospital for more care, according to a spokesperson from the South East Coast Ambulance service.
They also mentioned that their specialized team for dangerous situations is currently present at the location.
This tweet cannot be shown on your web browser. Please turn on Javascript or use a different browser to see the original content on Twitter.
The BBC does not control the content of external websites.
Avoid checking the tweet from BBC Surrey
This blog post includes information from Twitter. We want to make sure you consent to loading the content, as there may be cookies and other technology involved. Be sure to review Twitter's cookie policy and privacy policy before agreeing. Click 'accept and continue' to see the content.
The BBC does not control or endorse the content found on external websites.
Aaron Spencer, who is the commander of the SFRS group, mentioned that it was too early to determine if the recent high temperatures had contributed to the fire starting.
Firefighters from London and Berkshire have been called in to help with the task.
The Fairview New Homes company owns the building.
Someone speaking on behalf of the group mentioned that as soon as the fire department was called, everyone working at the construction site was told to leave.
They stated: "We want to express our gratitude to the fire department for their quick and efficient response, and we also want to say sorry to the people and businesses in Staines for any worry or disruption this may have caused."
Spelthorne Borough Council reported that people using the Staines Community Centre were safely moved out of the building.
Source of the picture, Andrew Mayar
The firefighters have managed to bring the fire under control, as reported by the fire department.
There were accounts from people close to the location that a loud noise could be heard in the vicinity.
Laura Purkess, who resides in the vicinity, recounted hearing a loud noise coming from her residence.
She described the sound as a loud "boom" that caused both herself and all of her neighbors to rush out onto the street. By that time, the roof was ablaze.
"It began at one end and quickly spread to cover the whole roof. Following that, there were a series of loud crashing noises."
A representative from the fire department stated that there was no indication of a cause at this point.
The picture credit goes to Lewis Henderson
Surrey Fire and Rescue Service reported that eight fire trucks were on the scene battling the blaze.
Stay updated with BBC Surrey by following them on Facebook and Twitter. Share your story suggestions with us at [email protected] or message us on WhatsApp at 08081 002250.
