Baldock fire: Business premises lost in industrial estate blaze

Firefighters are tackling a blaze at an industrial estate in a historic market town that has left many businesses without premises.

Crews were sent to Baldock Industrial Estate off London Road in the town at about 18:15 BST on Tuesday.

Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service declared a major incident after the fire rapidly developed with various business units at risk.

It said its response has been scaled down but crews remained at the scene.

"Firefighters are tackling hotspots and ensuring the flames are fully out," the service said.

It said it was "likely to be at the site for a few days".

The service added that both a fire investigation team and the police were looking into the cause of the fire in a probe which is "likely to take some time".

The blaze was close to the town's Tesco supermarket, which was evacuated.

Residents were also asked to keep their windows closed due to the large amount of smoke, and some lost power and water supplies.

The fire service has asked people to continue to avoid the area throughout Wednesday as surrounding roads remained closed.

Speaking on Wednesday morning, Andy Hall, the fire service's head of operational response, said: "We are asking anyone who lives nearby to keep their windows closed due to the large amount of smoke and that people continue to avoid the area while our crews deal with the incident.

"The roundabout at the junction of London Road, South Road and the entrance to Tesco is closed to traffic."

The fire service sent 15 engines as smoke spread across the town.

Area commander Andy Esson said crews worked hard to "contain and extinguish" the fire.

One photo posted on social media showed the fire burning inside a building with the Baldock Tyre Exhaust & Mot Centre signage.

Nearby resident Claire Walton said she and her family first saw posts about the fire on a Facebook group.

"We rushed upstairs and thought we might see a bit of smoke, but there were flames everywhere and black smoke was billowing into the sky," she said.

"It just seems to be getting worse and worse - we're hearing 'bang, bang, bangs' going off."

Several hours after the fire was first reported, Ms Walton filmed the scene with thick black smoke continuing to fill the sky two roads away from her family's home.

Harp Mann, who also lives nearby, said he had been told to stay indoors and all roads leading to the Tesco roundabout had been shut.

Resident Nick Howell, told the Press Association that the local community was worried and concerned, particularly for businesses affected by the blaze.

"As a small community, concern is with the small businesses and livelihoods lost in the blaze, and the firefighters involved," he said.

"Keeping fingers crossed that everyone involved is safe."

Car care company, Marsh Detailing, said in a Facebook post that they were "trying to process what has happened and come to terms with losing everything we've worked so hard to get".

"We don't know any details of what caused the fire yet or what building it came from but a lot of businesses have been lost," the post said.

Hertfordshire Spray Painters, who also posted on social media, said it was a "humbling and tragic day" and it was "truly devastated for all our friends on our estate we work, support and laugh with".

"We personally know multiple owners and staff of businesses in units around us, that will now not have a business or job tomorrow... some have lost everything."

The company added that at the time of posting it did not know if their unit would be there in the morning.

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