A terrifying blaze broke out at a battery factory in a town in Somerset this morning.
Around 60 firefighters scrambled to the inferno at the PMBL factory in Leach Road, Chard, at around 5.48am.
Flames could be seen tearing through the roof of the building with large plumes of smoke billowing into the sky. A firefighter on an aerial ladder used a water jet to try and extinguish the blaze from above.
The roof partly collapsed on a neighbouring unit, while a gym at the industrial estate was also said to have been affected, according to the BBC.
The surrounding roads were shut off and people were told to keep their windows and doors closed with the fire having to be battled externally as the building was deemed to be too unsafe to enter.
Around 60 firefighters scrambled to the inferno at the PMBL factory in Leach Road, Chard, Somerset at around 5.48am on Sunday
The roof partly collapsed on a neighbouring unit, while a gym at the industrial estate was also said to have been affected
A firefighter on an aerial ladder used a water jet to try and extinguish the blaze from above as huge plumes of smoke billows into the sky
Paramedics from the South Western Ambulance Service Trust also rushed to the scene as part of the response, but it was later confirmed that no one was injured.
Dan Taylor, from Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, told the BBC: ‘[The fire] is all but extinguished, but we do have numerous hotspots.
‘Unfortunately, due to the structure of the building, we are unable to go inside so we are fighting externally
‘There’s not much smoke but there is a lot of steam. The smoke was initially very thick and acrid.’
At the moment it is not known what caused the inferno, an investigation has been launched to find the cause.
Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said this morning: ‘DSFRS are in attendance at a large fire at an industrial unit on Leach Road in Chard. Eight pumping appliances as well as specialist resources are in attendance.
‘There have been no injuries reported. We are advising local residents to close doors and windows due to the large smoke plume.’