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Up to 15 appliances tackle fire at storage unit

Neve Gordon-Farleigh
BBC News, Suffolk
Watch: Aftermath of Suffolk warehouse blaze

Up to 15 fire appliances spent the night tackling a "very large, substantial" blaze at a self-storage warehouse.

Suffolk Fire Service was called to Alan Cook Removals on the South Lowestoft industrial area at about midnight.

The service said the whole building, on Pinbush Road in Gisleham, was affected but no-one was inside at the time.

Matt Webster, the fire service's group manager, said firefighters were "making good progress" and by 07:30 BST the number of vehicles had been scaled down to six engines and an aerial ladder platform.

South Lowestoft warehouse fire

The service expected to have a presence at the site for most of the day, he added.

A spokesperson for Britannia Alan Cook declined to comment when approached by the BBC.

Vince Parker Two pictures side by side showing orange flames and smoke billowing from a building at an industrial site. Vince Parker
Matt Webster from the fire service said the fire had taken place within a warehouse

"The building has taken a large amount of damage, we have not been able to get into the property due to the fire and the structural integrity," said Mr Webster.

He added the "very large substantial fire" had been "within a warehouse itself".

People living nearby have been advised to keep their windows and doors closed due to the smoke.

Richard Knights/BBC The outside of Britannia Alan Cook, a storage and removals warehouse located on an industrial estate. A red fire engine is parked outside the front of the building and a DO NOT CROSS cordon has been put in place. Richard Knights/BBC
Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service said it expected to be at the site for the remainder of the day

James Golder, who works at nearby Altro Walls, said he saw the flames and a plume of smoke fter coming out of the 24-hour gym and could still see it when he returned home.

He said: "I noticed it was the Britannia building which is next door to ours... when I got closer that's when I could see how high the orange flames were.

"I can only imagine what it felt like for any staff at Britannia... you never think it's going to be your building... it's frightening.

"God forbid if it was during the day… it's just fortunate there was no one in at the time it makes you consider everything, you don't expect it to be the building next to you."

Richard Knights/BBC Burnt parts of the roof and building has been left behind amongst a plume of smoke at the warehouse. Richard Knights/BBC
James Golder who works at a neighbouring business, said he saw the flames when he came out of the gym

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