Huge plume of smoke billows into the sky as massive fire engulfs rooftop of flats in Staines

26 June 2024, 12:56 | Updated: 26 June 2024, 16:07

A huge fire has broken out on the roof of a block of flats in Staines.

An enormous cloud of smoke was pictured billowing into the sky after a blaze broke out at the top of a new-build block on Elmsleigh road in Staines.

The fire broke out around 12:30pm on top of the former Tothill Car Park, emergency services said.

Surrey Fire and Rescue service said in a later statement: "This fire is now under control and all people are accounted for. We encourage people to stay away from the area for some more time, if possible, whilst we continue our work here. Thanks to staff and partners who have supported at this incident."

Read more: Lambeth Council boss on £190,000 salary charged with drink driving and drug offences

Read more: 'Big Viking stomper' gangster caught after breaking out of prison and going on the run for a month

Another told LBC: “Fire on roof of high rise apartment block in Staines right now looks very bad. It’s a construction site behind the old Debenhams on Staines high street”

One X user shared a video of the billowing smoke, as they wrote: “Just heard a huge explosion outside my house - a tower block under construction down the road is now up in flames in Staines Upon Thames. Apparently the gas tanks on the roof exploded. Scary!”

A third said: “Massive fire on a tower block under construction in Staines.”

One local said the "crackling was so loud and the smoke was intense!".

Witnesses have reported that the flames and smoke are visible from the Elmsleigh shopping centre.

Members of the public were urged to avoid Staines town centre while emergency services respond to the incident.

In an earlier statement, Surrey Fire and Rescue service said: "We received a call this afternoon 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 tackling the fire. Please can you avoid the area if possible and we ask residents to keep their windows shut."

A witness said: “Huge fire with thick black plume of smoke on roof of new build flats in Staines town centre. Hope all are safe.”

Earlier this month Staines-upon-Thames saw another dramatic emergency services incident when a police officer rammed an escaped cow with his patrol car.

The animal sustained grazes and a large cut to the leg in the incident.

The cow was running loose in the streets and an officer used his 4x4 vehicle to hit Beau Lucy.

The police officer involved was removed from frontline duties.

Home Secretary James Cleverley asked for a “full, urgent explanation” as to why officers used the car to ram the escaped animal, saying it seemed “unnecessarily heavy handed”.

The cow’s owner, a farmer who would only give his name as Rob, described the incident as “quite horrific” and “wrong” and said “it could have been handled so much better.”