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| Serious Fire at Hartley business park - Updated October 22nd 2014 |
Fire crews from East Hampshire were call to an intense fire in an Industrial Unit at Hartley Business Park last night (21st October). Strong winds were driving fumes and thick smoke across Selborne Road which was temporarily closed to traffic between the Round House crossroads and the Hall Lane junction, causing a dramatic, albeit temporary, increase in traffic through Farringdon. Solvents and various products stored in the building led to the intense fire clearly visible from many parts of Farringdon., and severely damaged the adjacent unit.
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The roof and east side of the neighbouring unit were also badly damaged as strong winds fanned the flames directly towards the camera position the Selborne Road side of the units. Although the wind increased the intensity of the fire it did prevent burning embers drifting onto Hartley Park Farmhouse and nearby Cottages, which were temporarily evacuated but left untouched |
Despite the wind the intense heat set fire to and completely burnt out a tractor parked across the drive from the fire but apart from superficial damage most other buildings in the yard were not seriously damaged. |
During the fire, burning fluid and unburnt chemicals were flushed down the the sloping drive to the north of the unit, contaminating the nearby watercourse. Environment Agency personnel were hoping to remove threatened species further downstream, and transfer them to another tributary of the Wey Stream system, to offer protection while the natural flow dilutes the contaminants and flushes the stream clear. The cause of the fire is unknown but a Fire Investigation team is expected on site shortly. |
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