Residents in a riverside village must keep their doors and windows closed throughout the night following a fire.
Authorities have warned people living in part of Greenhithe, Kent, heavy smoke continues to billow into the night’s sky after the blaze. Kent Fire and Rescue Service was called to the blaze on Wednesday evening and remains at the scene on Spring Vale, a cul-de-sac in the south of the village near Bluewater Shopping Centre.
Issuing an update at 10pm last night, Kent Fire and Rescue Service said: “People living near Spring Vale in Greenhithe, Dartford are still being advised to keep their windows and doors closed due to smoke from a fire at a derelict builders’ merchants. This advice will remain in place until the morning.
“Four fire engines and a height vehicle remain at the scene. Please continue to share this advice with loved ones who may be affected but do not have access to the internet.”
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Four fire engines and a special support vehicle, used to help give crew height, were dispatched at around 8pm on Wednesday to reports of a blaze at the derelict builders’ merchants. No injuries have been reported as yet.
Kent Fire and Rescue Service’s first statement to the press read: “Crews are advising people living or travelling near Spring Vale in Greenhithe, Dartford to keep windows and doors closed due to heavy smoke coming from a fire in a derelict builders’ merchants.
“Four fire engines are in attendance and crews are working to extinguish the flames. Please share this information with any loved ones in the area who may be affected but do not have access to the internet.”
Footage taken shortly after 8pm shows thick black smoke billow into the sky above homes on and near Spring Vale. At least one fire engine is seen in the clip, which has been shared on X, formerly known as Twitter.
The fire service has published both of its statements across its social media, posts which have since been widely shared to warn residents. Around 6,000 people live in Greenhithe, which sits beside the River Thames, around 15 miles east of the Thames Barrier. However, the warning concerns those on Spring Vale and the surrounding roads, including Knockhall Road, Hasted Close, Johnsons Way and Pilgrims View.
The fire comes after a chemical incident was declared on Wednesday night in Oldham, Greater Manchester, as an “explosion” was witnessed in a residential area. Emergency services swarmed the vicinity, blocked drains and contained the spillage to avoid contamination. Like in Kent, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service warned residents to keep their windows and doors closed for their safety.
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