Cause of blaze which tore through Sunderland factory under investigation

Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service urged people living and working near to the fire in a fibreglass manufacturing facility in Hendon Street, off the A1018 Hendon Road, to close their windows and doors to prevent smoke getting inside their homes and businesses as its crews battled the blaze.

It broke out shortly before 1pm today, Friday, July 10, with five appliances and an ariel ladder platform sent to fight the fire, which took until around 4pm.

Thick black smoke rising from the site could be seen for miles before the teams brought it under control.

A spokesperson for the service said: “The incident on Hendon Road has now concluded, although crews are still on the scene making the area safe.

"The building is badly damaged, but thankfully there were no major injuries.

"The cause of the fire is under investigation.”

Northumbria Police officers cordoned off the street as they worked to support the crews.

The North East Ambulance Service said it sent three Hazardous Area Response Teams to the incident, with its medics assessing and discharging two patients at the scene.

One business boss who works nearby, but asked not to be named, said: “I didn’t notice anything until a saw a load of emergency vehicles.“Then I saw a massive cloud of smoke coming out of one of the businesses further down the road.”

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