People living near a storage unit in Byfleet have spoken of their shock after a huge fire tore through the commercial building. The blaze broke out at Access Self Storage in Oyster Lane just before 9pm on Thursday (May 18).
Surrey Fire and Rescue Service initially sent ten pumps and an aerial ladder platform to tackle the flames and, this afternoon (May 20), crews remain at the site for a second day. Motorists were yesterday asked to avoid the area and residents had been urged to close doors and windows as large plumes of smoke could be seen billowing from the unit.
One concerned father, who lives near Berry’s Lane, took his wife, young son and four-month-old baby to a hotel in Woking as soon as they noticed the “thick smoke”. David told SurreyLive: “The baby started coughing so we went to a hotel last night [May 19].
READ NEXT: Byfleet fire live: Firefighters remain at self-storage unit for a second day
“We weren’t evacuated by the fire service, we just left as soon as we realised the baby was coughing. My wife is staying in Northampton with my parents for a week or so, until it clears.”
When the fire first started, residents said they thought it was a bonfire, but they soon became alarmed when they saw fire engines pull up near their homes. People living close by say they were “shocked” and, even, “scared” to see flames still reaching up out of the building the following morning.
‘We were worried the fire was spreading’
Lauren, who lives near Chertsey Road, said: “We expected it to have gone down, but it was more rampant with flames and thick black smoke. We were watching it from the top of the road, then we went in and kept the doors and windows closed, and kept the dogs in.
“Living so close, we were worried it was spreading but it was contained. We were more scared in the morning that it hadn’t gone down.
“We had to help a family of Egyptian geese, with seven babies, cross the road because it was shut. One fell in the drain and the fire crew had to rescue it.”
Today, a number of residents in the area say they are without their broadband services. Lauren said: “Our internet is down, everyone down the street has no internet.”
Darren, who lives on Chertsey Road, told SurreyLive: “[I’ve been told] I won’t get my Wi-Fi back until May 24 now.” He added: “The smoke smell is still in the house.”
An Openreach spokesperson said the situation was being looked into and an update would follow shortly. This afternoon, Surrey Fire and Rescue Service crews remain at the scene of the fire, making sure it is fully out.
Oyster Lane, between the traffic lights near Brooklands and Abbot Close, is to remain shut for the rest of the day.
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