A huge fire engulfed a luxury car dealership in Lancashire this morning with ten fire engines battling the blaze. Drone pictures show flames and smoke pouring out of the Inchape Jaguar and Land Rover dealership on Bluebell Way in Preston. Around half the main structure appeared to be ablaze with infrared images showing an intense white-hot heat surrounding the building.
Lancashire Fire and Rescue warned firefighters and appliances were likely to remain at the scene for some hours today (March 7) getting the inferno under control, Lancashire Live reports.
Nearby residents have been advised to keep windows closed until further notice as fumes may spread to the local area.
The ten 10 engines from stations in Fulwood, Preston, Penwortham, Bamber Bridge, Longridge, Darwen, Blackburn, Hyndburn and Chorley were joined by two aerial platforms from Preston and Hyndburn.
Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service said: “Firefighters are likely to remain at the scene for some hours. Please avoid the area if possible.”
In an update around 6.15am, the service said it had scaled the incident back to four fire engines and an aerial ladder platform.
Area Manager John Rossen said: “Through the night, we’ve had a significant fire involving an industrial unit in Preston.
“We’ve had a large number of resources here through the night. We’ve had, at its height, nine fire engines, two aerial ladder platforms and a large number of specialist resources.
“My thanks go to all the firefighters who arrived quickly and worked really hard in very arduous conditions, and actually they’ve managed to suppress the fire, stop it from spreading and we’re in a much better place after a few hours of this fire going.”
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He added: “My advice to members of the public is we will be here for a number of hours to come, please, if you notice any smoke, keep your doors and windows shut and also please try to stay away from the local area.”
The fire service was alerted to the blaze at shortly after 1am this morning.
It said that the fire was producing a large volume of smoke and warned nearby residents to keep all windows and doors closed if they were being affected by smoke.
Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service said in a statement: “At 01:03 on 07 April, ten fire engines from Fulwood, Preston, Penwortham, Bamber Bridge, Longridge, Darwen, Blackburn, Hyndburn, and Chorley, together with two aerial ladder platforms from Preston and Hyndburn, attended a commercial building fire on Bluebell Way, Preston.
“The incident involved a commercial property approximately 100x100m in size.
“Firefighters are likely to remain at the scene for some hours. Please avoid the area if possible.”
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