Latest news with #HampshireFireService
BBC News
5 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Fire breaks out in restaurant kitchen at Southampton's Westquay
Diners at a restaurant were forced to leave after a fire broke out in its from five stations were called Red Dog Saloon in Westquay Shopping Centre, Southampton, shortly after 19:30 BST on fire service said the blaze was tackled using hose jets and fans to clear smoke. Crews left shortly after 21:00. The fire service thanked all staff and members of the public "for their patience and cooperation throughout the incident". A spokesperson for Westquay said: "All occupiers apart from Red Dog Saloon restaurant reopened after a return to units was agreed with the fire brigade who we worked closely with. "Details on the Red Dog Saloon restaurant reopening will be provided in due course." You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Telegraph
19-03-2025
- Automotive
- Telegraph
Watch: Fireball erupts over shopping centre as truck explodes
A truck has exploded at a shopping centre causing a huge fireball. Dramatic footage taken on Wednesday morning at Westquay in Southampton, Hampshire, shows the moment the white vehicle burst into flames with a 'loud bang'. A ball of flames then erupted over the shopping centre – prompting the complex to be evacuated as plumes of 'thick' black smoke rose into the air. Body Shop worker Stephanie Vella said she saw someone being 'pulled away' after he ran towards the smoking vehicle, worried someone was still in there. The 25-year-old said she was just arriving for work at around 9.35am when it went up in flames. She said: 'I was coming in, just paid for my parking, then went to get my ticket and then saw some smoke came from the van with another lady that was there. Then I called my manager and said, 'I think there's a car that's on fire'. 'It then caught in a really big flame. As we were on the phone, it exploded. It was loud and very, very hot. You could hear it on the other side of the phone as well.' Her manager, Jordan Padley, 25, said: 'I heard it through the phone, it was like something out of a movie.' Miss Vella said she could 'feel the heat hit my face when it went up' from where she stood across the road. 'Then the tyres, or tyre caps, started exploding off. All four wheels went individually, and then we all jumped back.' Emily Robinson was on her way to work when she heard a 'big bang' from the train station. It is understood the food court at the shopping centre was evacuated as a siren in the car park was sounded. Delivery driver Sheikh Emad Uddin Billal said: 'I noticed a car on fire with a crowd of people watching - I stopped my motorcycle to film.' It is believed the truck that exploded was involved in painting lines on the road. Paint drums of the sort used to make road markings could be seen on the back of the vehicle. What appeared to be charred gas canisters were pictured amidst the burnt-out framework of the truck. Acculine, which specialises in painting line markings on roads, confirmed the vehicle belonged to the company. A spokesperson said the driver is 'okay'. The firm raised the possibility of an issue with a gas canister but added it was unsure of the cause of the explosion. A spokesperson for Westquay said: 'We can confirm that an incident occurred near the Podium car park entrance at Westquay this morning. Fire services were quickly in attendance, and this is now a matter for the authorities, and we are supporting them with their enquiries. 'The safety and security of our shoppers and colleagues is always our top priority.' A Hampshire Fire Service spokesman said the blaze 'involved a vehicle containing cylinders that exploded'. 'The fire completely destroyed the vehicle and caused heat and smoke damage to the entrance of the Westquay car park,' he added. 'The fire has been confirmed as accidental, and the scene has now been handed over to the police.' Hampshire Police said: 'This was a vehicle fire on Harbour Parade, Southampton, reported at 9.37am today. The fire service led on this incident and police assisted with road closures. There were no injuries.'
