Basildon: Shop Roof Collapses In Fire

The roof of a parade of shops near Basildon has partially collapsed following a fire.

Around 20 firefighters were called to The Triangle in Langdon Hills at 1.50pm today (Thursday, January 3) to a fire that had engulfed around 60% of the roof. 

By 3.20pm it had spread to the entire roof. 

People living nearby are being advised to shut their windows and doors because of thick smoke coming from the building. 

Five fire engines attended the scene - including a special platform used to soak the fire from above.

Speaking from the scene Divisional Officer Mark Earwicker said: "When crews arrived they were faced with a well developed fire in the roof of the building, which quickly spread across the centre which houses three units.

"Crews have worked extremely hard and have done an excellent job in getting on top of this fire.

"The fire involved a number canisters and a quantity of alcohol which caused a few small explosions within the building, nothing which caused us any real problems.

"The roof has now collapsed into the building and has covered the fire creating pockets of fire in the building which are proving hard for crews to get at.

"We will be here for many hours yet to come turning over and damping down."