Massive Fire Engulfs Warehouse on Bridgend Industrial Estate, No Casualties Reported

A warehouse on Bridgend Industrial Estate in South Wales has been engulfed in a massive fire, leading to the collapse of the building within minutes. Thankfully, no casualties have been reported, according to the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service. The blaze, which broke out in a warehouse owned by Owens Group, was brought under control on Saturday at approximately 08:20 GMT.

The fire is believed to have originated from a stockpile of kitchen and toilet rolls, said Doug Jeffrey, a representative of Owens Group. Within just seven minutes of the fire breaking out, the building, measuring about 245m x 110m (800ft x 360ft), had almost completely collapsed, causing extensive damage and a partially collapsed roof.

All staff members of Owens Group were able to evacuate the warehouse safely, and the company has expressed apologies to neighboring businesses impacted by the incident. Fire crews from South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, supported by other emergency services including Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service, South Wales Police, the Welsh Ambulance Service, and Natural Resources Wales, responded to the scene with 10 engines, four water carriers, and two aerial ladder platforms to combat the fire overnight.

Local businesses and residents were shocked by the intensity and speed of the blaze, with the immediate area evacuated for safety reasons. Liarne Bell, an employee at Phil’s News & Cafe located nearby, expressed relief that no injuries were reported, emphasizing that many individuals from the burned-down building frequented their establishment. Other businesses, however, were not as fortunate and suffered significant losses as a result of the fire.

Motorists have been advised to avoid the area, as the roads including Kingsway, Queens Road, and South Road are expected to remain closed for the foreseeable future. Investigation into the cause of the fire will be conducted by South Wales Fire and Rescue Service in collaboration with South Wales Police.

Whocult, a donut and coffee shop in proximity to the fire, announced temporary closure due to a power outage caused by the incident. Despite this, the building remained unharmed, thanks to the efforts of the fire and rescue teams.

Images captured by drone footage depict the devastation caused by the fire, specifically at a former Sony UK unit located on Bridgend Industrial Estate. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of coordinated emergency response and the commendable efforts of all responders involved in bringing the situation under control.