A large fire at a joinery business has required the mobilisation of multiple resources and crews, including 12 fire engines, an aerial ladder, turntable ladder, water carrier, rescue tender and Command Support Vehicle (a specialist vehicle equipped with large working areas, computers and communications equipment that is used by the Incident Command Team to provide essential command and control functions during large or major incidents)
Updates will be provided when further details are available.
Update (9:58am 9.7.26)
The building is approximately 30m x 15m. There is internal and external fire spread, with machinery and vehicles alight at the rear of the property. Risks include cylinders inside the building and an asbestos roof.
Crews are using 3 × 45 jets (three hose lines fed from 45mm hose) and 2 × 70 (two hose lines fed from 70mm hose), one hydrant and have a support water relay in place.
No casualties reported.
Attendance by The Salvation Army has been requested for crew welfare.
Update (10:33am 9.7.26)
Our thanks to the Charitable Incorporated Organisation that manages Hollesley Village Hall for allowing our firefighters access to its facilities.
Update (11:39am 9.7.26)
A Fire Investigation Officer is now on scene.
Officers have ensured water and food supplies are available for crews.
A water hydrant is in use, as is agricultural machinery, to tackle the blaze. The aerial ladder has been set up as a water tower to provide access to the fire in the middle of the workshop.
Update (12:40pm 9.7.26)
Good progress is being made. Four crew relief due on scene shortly.
Water is being supplied by one fire bowser, a hydrant and water shuttle.
Update (4:10pm 9.7.26)
The fire was sectorised, which involves dividing it into sections, with firefighters tackling each section separately to help crews work more safely and effectively to bring the incident under control.
Crews are now using 1 x hose reel jet and 2 x 45mm jets and a ground monitor to dampen down.
UK Power Networks has isolated power.
Only four crews remain on scene, from Wickhambrook, Hadleigh, Long Melford and Lowestoft South.
Update (9.30am 10.7.26)
Hotspots were identified at 7:51pm yesterday which were causing light smoke to issue from the roof, so crews used a triple extension ladder and hose reel jet to dampen them down. Reinspection arranged for daylight hours.
At 8.39am this morning, a crew from Ipswich East attended to check for hotspots using a thermal imaging camera. By 8:55am, remaining hotspots had been dampened down. Incident due to close soon.
