Major update after fire rips through blocks of flats, sending huge billow of smoke into…

June 27, 2024, 10:44 am

Authorities have given an update after a huge fire broke out on the roof of a block of flats in Staines on Wednesday.

A huge plume of smoke was seen after the blaze broke out shortly after midday atop a newly built block of flats in the Surrey city.

And now property developer Fairview New Homes has revealed the fire was caused by welding work on the roof of the building, on Elmsleigh Road, above the former Tothill car park.

The company apologized to residents in the area and added: “There was a fire on the roof of one of the blocks at the Staines site which resulted from welding work being carried out on the roof.”

Surrey Fire and Rescue Service said in a subsequent statement: “This fire is now under control and all people are accounted for. We encourage people to stay away from the area for longer if possible while we continue our work here. Thank you to the staff and partners who supported this incident.”

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Another told LBC: “The fire on the roof of a block of flats in Staines right now looks really bad. It’s a building site behind the old Debenhams on Staines High Street”

One X user shared a video of the billowing smoke, writing: ‘Just heard a huge explosion outside my house – a tower block under construction down the road is now on fire in Staines Upon Thames. Apparently the gas tanks on the roof exploded. Frightening!”

A third said: “Mass fire at tower block under construction in Staines.”

One local said that “the crack was so loud and the smoke was heavy!”.

Witnesses reported flames and smoke visible from Elmsleigh shopping centre.

The public has been urged to avoid Staines town center while emergency services respond to the incident.

In an earlier statement, Surrey Fire and Rescue Service said: “We received a call this afternoon at around 12.30pm to a report of a fire at the former Tothill car park, Elmsleigh Road, Staines-upon- Thames.

“Crews remain at the scene to fight the fire. Please avoid the area if possible and we ask residents to keep their windows closed.”

One witness said: “Huge fire with a thick plume of black smoke on the roof of newly built flats in Staines town centre. I hope everyone is safe.”

Earlier this month, Staines-upon-Thames saw another dramatic emergency services incident when a police officer hit a runaway cow with his patrol car.

The animal suffered a graze and a large cut to its leg in the incident.

The cow was running loose in the streets and an officer used his 4×4 vehicle to hit Beau Lucy.

The police officer involved has been removed from frontline duties.

Home Secretary James Cleverley called for a “full, urgent explanation” as to why officers used the car to hit the escaped animal, saying it appeared “unnecessarily heavy-handed”.

The cow’s owner, a farmer who gave his name only as Rob, described the incident as “pretty horrible” and “wrong” and said he “could have done a lot better”.