UPDATED WITH VIDEO: Fire crews are responding to a large fire in Wroxall this afternoon (Wednesday).
Billowing black smoke can be seen across the village, with flames shooting out from an industrial building.
Crews from Ventnor, Shanklin and Ryde – plus an aerial ladder platform from Ryde – are all attending having been alerted to the incident at just before 14:00.
A cordon has been put in place and buildings evacuated.
UPDATE @ 14:45 – Firefighters are battling against the flames, which have ripped through a derelict building and industrial units off Castle Road. The building was formally used as a bacon factory.
More resources have been mobilised to the scene, including the Incident Command Unit from Newport and a water carrier from Freshwater.
Appliances from Ventnor, Shanklin, Sandown, Newport and 2 from Ryde are all in attendance.
No one is thought to have been injured at this stage.
UPDATE @ 15:30 – Sections of the building have collapsed as fire crews continue to battle against the flames. Several main jets are in operation.
With fears of explosion from gas cylinders, Police have cordoned off the immediate area and the fire service are advising residents on St John’s Road to remain inside their properties.
Many local residents are unable to leave their homes due to the road closures in place.
UPDATE @ 15:55 – Firefighting efforts have taken a defensive stance following the discovery of cylinders.
The Isle of Wight Ambulance Service, Southern Water, Southern and Scottish Energy and the Isle of Wight Council are also now on scene.
According to locals, squatters have been seen inside the building in recent weeks, however it is currently unclear if anyone is inside the building now or at the time of the fire’s ignition.
Residents should keep windows and doors closed for the time being.
Cordons remain in place.
UPDATE @ 17:25 – Dean Haward, Group Manager for the Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service has confirmed that at least 3 buildings have been gutted by the blaze.
Over 30 firefighters remain at the scene this evening as crews continue to dowse the flames. 6 appliances, an aerial ladder appliance, a water carrier and the Incident Command Unit are in attendance alongside a Hazmat officer and an officer from the Isle of Wight Ambulance Service.
No one has been injured in the incident.
Crews are likely to have a presence at Castle Road throughout the night.
Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) have engineers on scene making overhead power cables safe.
Meanwhile, an elderly female has been checked over by paramedics as a precautionary measure due to smoke entering her property. Local residents are being asked to keep windows and doors closed in the immediate area.
A cordon remains in place for both the crews and members of the public due to the presence of acetylene gas bottles, however these cordons are being reviewed at regular intervals. A 200m exclusion zone, which would have meant evacuating residential properties, has not been required.
The use of a drone is being utilised by the Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service to get an in-depth aerial overview of the fire ground. Local company Wight Drone are working with firefighters.
The cause of the fire is currently unknown, however it is not being treated as suspicious at this time.
UPDATE @ 21:30 – Crews are tonight damping down the charred remains of the building and continue to monitor its stability.
Relief appliances – including those from Bembridge and Cowes – have arrived at the incident to take over from the first appliances in attendance.
An aerial ladder platform is being used.
Roads have now reopened in the area.
A full investigation is expected to be launched in the morning.
UPDATE THURSDAY @ 08:30 – The Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service have remained on scene throughout the night and continue to damp down using an aerial ladder platform.
One appliance from Ventnor and the aerial ladder platform from Ryde remain on scene.
An investigation into the cause is anticipated to get underway shortly.
This aerial photograph, as captured by Wight Drone, reveals the extent of the damage…
VIDEO:
Video by Joanne Anderson
