A HUGE fire has broken out near homes, sending clouds of black smoke into the sky – with local residents urged to evacuate.
Shocking photos show the huge cloud rising in Cannock, Staffordshire, with fire crews rushing to the scene.
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Firefighters asked residents to close their windows and asked nearby businesses to evacuate.
Dozens of firefighters were rushed to the scene to try to extinguish the fire – which started before 6am in the center of the parcel.
Photos shared online by horrified residents showed smoke rising into the blue sky, while others shared photos of fire leaping from an industrial-looking building.
One resident wrote: “What’s happening with the big fire in Lakeside behind Sainsbury’s in Cannock?
“Huge clouds of smoke can be seen from miles away.”
Sam Winter, 32, captured footage of the fire.
The scaffolder said: “I walked out of Cannock Chase into a cloud of smoke, so I drove all the way following it to take a video while my mum worked across the road.”
One person wrote on Twitter that they heard “a series of explosions” in the early hours of this morning.
Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service said the fire broke out at Super Smart Services – a distribution warehouse “which contains a range of different materials for delivery” – at around 6am.
They said no one was inside the building when the fire started.
Fire service latest update:
Crews received a call just before 6.15am this morning (Thursday, May 9) to an address in Cley Road.
We currently have many firefighters there, along with other colleagues from West Midlands Fire Service and Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service, to help control the fire.
We are advising the public to avoid the area where possible as we work to bring the incident to a safe and speedy conclusion.
If you live nearby and feel you have been affected, we recommend closing windows and doors as a precaution due to the large amount of smoke coming from the building.
We will share updates as soon as possible.
The service said at around 9.30am: “We currently have a number of firefighters there alongside other colleagues from West Midlands Fire Station and Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service to help control the fire.
“We are advising the public to avoid the area where possible as we work to bring the incident to a safe and speedy conclusion.
“If you live nearby and feel you have been affected, we recommend closing windows and doors as a precaution due to the large amount of smoke coming from the building.”
Crews this morning classified the fire as a “large-scale incident” and said 10 fire engines were at the scene.
He then added, “Firefighters are asking all residents to close windows and doors due to smoke and for all local businesses to evacuate.”
West Midlands Ambulance Service said it was called to the property but it was not necessary.
It said: “We were called at 6.36am by Kingswood Lakeside Fire Brigade in Cannock.
“Prior to our arrival, we were suspended because our assistance was no longer required.”
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This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
