Cause of huge fire in Staines revealed
Thick smoke could be seen from miles around during the fire on Wednesday
Last updated 27th Jun 2024
The fire in Staines town centre was triggered by welding work being carried out to a new block of flats under construction according to the developers behind the scheme.
The fire could be seen for miles around after it broke out around midday on Wednesday, June 26. Staff were on site as part of the “ fully operational construction development” including those carrying out the welding on the roof.
Emergency services attended including South East Coast Ambulance Service, and its Hazardous Area Response Team.
Four patients were assessed who were suffering from smoke inhalation. One was taken to St Peter’s Hospital for further treatment.
An investigation is ongoing developers Fairview New Homes has said as to what caused some people living nearby to report hearing a loud bang which they believed were gas canisters exploding.
Nearby, users of the Staines Community Centre were led to safety with all residents accounted for, the Spelthorne Borough Council said.
Developers Fairview said they were notified of the fire at its Rivertown development by their own construction team.
The development was originally given planning permission for 206 one and two bedroom flats on the former Masonic Lodge and Telephone Exchange in Elmsleigh Road in 2022.
The site was then sold to Fairview after original developers Inland Homes overturned Spelthorne Borough Council’s refusal on appeal.
The new flats had been due to launch in June this year although that date had already slipped to November before the fire broke out. The apartments have a guide price of £310,000.
A spokesperson for Fairview said: “Around midday today we were notified by our construction team that there was a fire on the roof of one of the blocks at the Staines construction site which resulted from welding works being undertaken on the roof, the fire has now been extinguished.
“The Fire Brigade was immediately notified and the whole construction site was evacuated in line with standard procedure, one operative was taken to hospital as a precaution. The building which is currently under construction was not occupied.
“We would like to thank the Fire Brigade for their swift and effective action as well as apologise to the residents and businesses of Staines for any concern or inconvenience caused.”