Firefighters praised for response after bank holiday blaze engulfs commercial garage unit in Hendon, Sunderland

Fast-thinking firefighters and control room staff have been praised after a rapid response to fire which gutted a garage unit on Bank Holiday Monday.

Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service (TWFRS) were scrambled at 9:57pm on August 28 to a fast-spreading fire in Old Mill Road, Sunderland.

Officers said the first crews were on scene in just five minutes to begin battling the blaze, but it was a “substantial fire” and was spreading “rapidly”.

Recognising the scale of the fire, a number of further appliances were mobilised to the scene meaning a total of six appliances, an Aerial Ladder Platform, and 26 firefighters were deployed.

Group Manager Shaun Makin, who led the response, has praised the firefighters, fire control team and support staff who delivered a fast and efficient response.

"This was a substantial fire that was quickly spreading and light was a significant issue for our firefighters on the ground," he said.

"It was important that we acted quickly and I saw first-hand the speed at which our Fire Control team, and then our firefighters, worked to bring the incident under control and stop the fire spreading to adjacent properties.

"Thankfully there were no people in the garage at the time of the fire however the premises were completely damaged due to this fire.

“We will be working this week, alongside our blue light partners, to determine the cause of the fire.

“I want to thank everyone involved in the response for their professionalism and fast actions."

A Northumbria Police spokesperson said: “At 10.30pm yesterday (Monday), we were informed by Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service of a fire at a building on Old Mill Road, in Hendon, Sunderland.

“Emergency services attended and the fire was put out a short time later.

“Thankfully, no-one was injured in the incident.

“Officers are treating the fire as accidental and enquiries are ongoing.

“Anyone with information should use the ‘Tell Us Something’ page of the Northumbria Police website or call 101, quoting NP-20230828-1190.”

Emergency services have since left the scene of the incident but, despite early enquiries, the cause of the fire remains unknown.