Huge fire at Searle factory

UK: More than 80 firefighters from across Hampshire were last night tackling a fire at the GEA Searle factory in Fareham.

According to the Southern Daily Echo, a huge blaze broke out at the premises on the Colingwood Retail Park at around 11.45pm.

A total of 15 pumps, including water carriers, from across Hampshire battled through the night to extinguish the blaze at the refrigeration unit on Frankport Way.

Paul Coates, station manager at Fareham Fire Station, told the Portsmouth News: ‘When we got there, the flames were 50ft out of the roof. There were things exploding everywhere. High winds were driving the fire. At least half of the building was already on fire.”

Two thirds of the building is reported to have been completely destroyed. Catch a video on the Portsmouth News website.

Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service (HFRS) mobilised 15 appliances from Fareham, Gosport, Portchester, Cosham, Eastleigh, Redbridge, Hightown, Wickham, Waterlooville, Southsea, Botley, Droxford, Emsworth and St Mary’s Fire Stations, together with the HAZMAT team.

Incident Commander Area Manager Steve Foye said: “More than 80 firefighters have tackled the blaze since it broke out at around 23:45 last night. At this time the incident is still ongoing but the fire is now contained and crews are dampening down.”

The HFRS is working in partnership with the South Central Ambulance Service, Hampshire Constabulary, Fareham Borough Council and Environment Agency to make the scene safe.

The cause of the fire is not yet known but is not thought to have been started deliberately.

The alarm was raised by someone on site, but it is not yet known if there was anyone inside the building at the time of the fire. There were no reported injuries.