Emergency services' update reveals scale of Washington factory blaze as firefighters battled throughout night

The emergency services have issued an update about the blaze at a commercial building on Crowther Industrial Estate in Washington on Friday (July 31).

Smoke could be seen billowing into the air, with a large police presence also at the scene as the entrance into the industrial estate was cordoned off and blocked by police vehicles.

Speaking at the time, a Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service (TWFRS) spokesperson said they had received a “high volume of calls due to smoke being visible from the A1, A194 and the Sunderland Highway”.

In an updated statement released this morning (August 3), the spokesperson revealed the full scale of the blaze and the emergency services’ response.

The spokesperson said: “We can confirm on the afternoon of Friday 31st July, eight fire appliances attended a fire at a commercial property in Washington.

“The emergency call was received by our Fire Control Team at 3:40pm and crews from Marley Park, Farringdon, South Shields, Gateshead, West Denton, Byker and Newcastle Central Community Fire Stations were dispatched to the scene in Crowther Industrial Estate in Washington.”

“Crews left the scene at 8:14am (August 1), once the fire had been safely extinguished. The cause is unconfirmed at present.”

A Northumbria Police spokesperson also confirmed their attendance at the incident to “assist with road closures and cordons”.

At the time of the blaze, people were advised to avoid the area and Washington’s residents were told to “keep their windows and doors closed”.