Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service has warned people to shut windows and doors as a fire at a building on Sett End Road West, Blackburn, which is near a hospital
Residents across Blackburn have this morning been warned to keep windows and doors shut – as a fire rages through an industrial estate.
Multiple explosions were heard shortly after the blaze started, reportedly at a factory, on Sett End Road West, which is in the southeast of the Lancashire town. Crews in ten fire engines are currently tackling the blaze, which has led to road closures.
A spokesperson for Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service said: “We have 10 fire engines, two aerial ladder platforms and a firefighting robot at a commercial building fire on Sett End Road West, Blackburn.
“Firefighters were called at 00:45 and a number of roads are closed in the local area. There is also a large smoke plume and anyone who can see or smell smoke is strongly advised to close windows and doors. No injuries have been reported.”
Royal Blackburn Hospital is near the industrial estate but it, police stress, remains open. Lancashire Constabulary added streets, including Haslingden Road, are closed as firefighters tackle the blaze.
People as far as Accrington, which is around seven miles away, can see flames and smoke billow into the sky this morning. One person, thought to be in Accrington, wrote on Facebook: “Huge fire in Blackburn. Anyone living near the factory, call them, wake them up. Tell them to close their windows, in case of smoke inhalation. Get masks on. Might need to evacuate.” The fire service has not officially asked people to leave their homes as yet.
Someone tweeted: “Explosions been heard, as the fire rips through canisters The fire is spreading quickly.” Another local, who lives in the north of the Lancashire town, posted on X: “I can see a large fire from my Leamington Road residence. The fire looks like its near Blackburn Hospital.”
But, at the time of writing, operations continue at Royal Blackburn Hospital and no one there has had to be evacuated. The hospital, which opened in 2006, has more than 700 beds.
Further tweets and Facebook posts stress the huge scale of the fire, believed to have started at around 12.45am. One person tweeted: “It’s absolutely mental, can see it from my window.” Another shared this morning: It looks so bad, I hope no one is hurt.” It is unclear which building is on fire on Sett End Road West but the road, which is just off the M65, is home to various warehouses and factories. The cause of the blaze also remains unclear at this early stage.
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