19 January 2024 , 21:53
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A massive fire broke out on an industrial estate in South Wales late last night - causing debris to rain down outside homes up to two miles away.
Ten fire crews were called to tackle the large blaze at Bridgend Industrial Estate in Coychurch, off the A473. Footage sent to the Mirror by Joanne Howe shows flames and thick smoke billowing from one of the buildings on the estate, understood to be Formaction Limited on Kingsway. The resident, who lives on Brackla Hill, said she heard "multiple explosions".
South Wales Fire Service confirmed it received reports at 8.22pm of a large fire. Photos show the fire is raging so high that it can be seen well above houses - with one image showing it visible 15 miles away.
It is currently unclear if there are any injuries. Tom Gifford, MS for South Wales West, said his "thoughts are with those caught up in this major incident". The fire service said in a post on X: "We are advising persons living in the area to keep doors & windows closed. We are advising people to stay away from the area at this time."
A large fire has broken out on an industrial estate in Bridgend (Mark Press)
The smoke and flames are billowing into the sky (karl horanszky)Another eyewitness said police were stopping people from getting too near, adding that one building at the side of the estate near Bridgend College is "now twisted metal" as the fire services continue to try to contain the fire.
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A staff member for Formaction Limited - which develops industrial buildings and units - told the BBC they were aware of the fire, but had "no idea" how the blaze had started. "It will be made clear over the next few days," they said.
Bridgend Mayor Freya Sykes also warned people to avoid the scene as she shared a video showing pieces of debris raining down on the Brackla housing estate around two miles from the fire. She said on X: "There is a huge #fire in #Bridgend industrial estate right now. Please avoid the area and let @SWFireandRescue do their job. I sincerely hope no one has been hurt in anyway, but there was an explosion."
People have been warned to stay away from the area (Rob Thomas)Ms Sykes posted another video of the flames and went on to say: "It appears to be spreading (from this angle by the railway track, to the right). I presume more buildings have gone up. I just really hope no one is hurt but I'm really worried about our emergency crews tonight dealing with this. Those bangs are explosions on the estate."
She added: "Just to reiterate too, please stay away from #Bridgend Industrial Estate to allow @SWFireandRescue @swpolice @SWPBridgend and the ambulance service deal with what is clearly a major incident. Thank you guys."
Witnesses heard explosions before flames spread high into the sky
Photo of blaze taken from 15 miles away (Jane Perkins)Bailey Thorington, 18, said his dad owns Scorpion Martial Arts which has been on the industrial estate since 2008. It is situated just over 100m away from the fire. He and his family spotted the inferno raging from their home in the estate behind the industrial estate.
He told WalesOnline: "I'm lost for words. I'm looking at it right now. I panicked, my whole family panicked...we live a ten minute drive from where the business actually is. I opened the door and I could see it... I ran to my car and I drove down. I was the first one there. At the end of the day, that's all our lives there."
He added that currently the business isn't damaged by the fire. "When I got down there, the fire was near it but there's a separation from those units to the units that my dad's business is on. But the fire could very well jump over - it is that close. All of us are pretty apprehensive at the minute."
Mike Jordan, 46, from Broadlands in Bridgend, spotted the fire as he was heading out to Tesco and driving on the A48. He said: “I just saw an incredible glow on the horizon and billowing smoke…I’ve never seen an inferno like it. It just lit up the whole skyline. The flames must have been about 100ft high - it was ludicrous…all the traffic was slowing down, you could feel the heat from the actual flames on the main road. At that point the police started closing the roads off to try and control the traffic a little bit.”
Mike, who is the managing director of Cardiff-based branding and digital agency, Toward, added: “It’s just ginormous, absolutely ginormous. Even now where I am living in Broadlands, which is a good mile or so away I’d say, you can still see the glow up in the sky. It’s pretty bad.”