Cause Of Newchapel Fire Still Uncertain

Enquiries continue into cause of fire at Newchapel Industrial Estate

Surrey Police, Surrey Fire and Rescue and the Health and Safety Executive continue to work together to determine how a large fire started at an industrial estate in Newchapel last week.

Shortly before 11.30am on Monday, 3 October, the emergency services were called to Hobbs Industrial Estate, Eastbourne Road, a site comprising a number of low-level industrial buildings, following several reports of a large fire.

As a precaution the surrounding premises were evacuated.

Eight people were taken to hospital following the fire. One casualty remains at the Queen Victoria Hospital, East Grinstead, for serious injuries. The remaining casualties have been discharged from hospital.

Tandridge Neighbourhood Inspector Angie Austin said: "The emergency services all worked together to return the industrial estate to normality as soon as possible as we were very aware a number of business premises had been affected.

"We are still investigating what happened at Unit 33c and officers are assisting Surrey Fire and Rescue and the Health and Safety Executive to determine how the blaze started.

"I would once again like to thank the business community at Hobbs Industrial Estate for their patience and co-operation during this last week. It is important we, the Health and Safety Executive and Surrey Fire and Rescue gather crucial evidence which will hopefully help us establish exactly how this fire started."

No arrests have been made.