A huge blaze broke out at an industrial estate in Blackburn in the early hours of this morning, with residents warned to keep windows and doors shut
Residents in Blackburn have been advised to keep their windows and doors sealed due to a significant fire on an industrial estate.
A series of explosions were reported after the blaze broke out at a factory on Sett End Road West in the southeast area of the Lancashire town. The inferno is currently being tackled by ten fire crews, resulting in numerous road closures.
Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service stated: “We have 10 fire engines, two aerial ladder platforms and a firefighting robot at a commercial building fire on Sett End Road West, Blackburn.”
The service was alerted to the fire at 00:45, and nearby roads have been shut off. Due to a large smoke plume, locals have been advised to seal their homes and anyone who can smell or see the smoke should follow suit.
Fortunately, there have been no reported injuries.
Royal Blackburn Hospital, situated near the fire site, remains operational according to authorities. Lancashire Constabulary added that several roads, including Haslingden Road, have been closed while firefighters battle the flames.
The fire is visible from as far as Accrington, approximately seven miles away, with flames and smoke clearly visible in the morning sky.
A concerned local 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.”
However, as yet, there has been no official evacuation warning from the fire service.
Twitter is ablaze with reports from locals as they watch the huge fire light up the night sky. One person wrote on X: “Explosions been heard, as the fire rips through canisters The fire is spreading quickly.”
A tweet from one eyewitness read: “It’s absolutely mental, can see it from my window.”
Another early morning post expressed concern: “It looks so bad, I hope no one is hurt.”
Meanwhile, a resident from the north side of the Lancashire town shared on social media: “I can see a large fire from my Leamington Road residence. The fire looks like its near Blackburn Hospital.”
Despite the proximity to the inferno, Royal Blackburn Hospital has not been evacuated and continues its operations. The hospital, which has been serving the community since 2006, boasts over 700 beds.
The exact location of the fire on Sett End Road West remains uncertain, though the area is known for its warehouses and factories.
As of now, the cause of the fire is still unknown.
For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletter by clicking here.