Massive Blaze Tears Through Southampton Restaurant
The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire & Rescue Service (HIWFRS) was scrambled just before 7.30pm as flames ripped through a restaurant in Southampton. Firefighters from St Mary’s, Hightown, Redbridge, Eastleigh, Winchester, Hamble, and Fareham rushed to the scene as the fire quickly spread.
Flames Fought With High-Power Jets and Aerial Ladders
Brave crews battled the inferno using hose reels, high-pressure jet hoses, and two aerial ladder platforms to attack the blaze from above. At the peak, fourteen fire engines and specialist vehicles were on the front line of the fiery fight.
Roof Collapses, Firefighters Brace for Long Night
The restaurant’s roof gave way under the intense heat as firefighters fought desperately to stop the blaze spreading to neighbouring buildings. Teams are expected to work through the night to prevent the fire from reigniting.
The incident has now been scaled back, with five fire engines left on overnight duty to monitor hotspots and soak down the smouldering remains.
Road Closures and Investigation Underway
Police have shut Portswood High Street, which will stay closed until later today. Fire investigators are combing the scene to determine how the blaze started.
Rob Cole, Incident Commander, said: “In hot conditions, our teams worked incredibly hard to aggressively fight the fire and prevent it from spreading to the adjoining premises.”
“We worked closely with our Hampshire Constabulary colleagues who closed off the surrounding roads throughout the incident.”
“I’d like to thank the local businesses that provided refreshments to our crews during the incident on a humid evening.”
