Residents living near a major trading estate in Wales have been urged to keep their windows and doors shut after a massive fire broke out in the early hours of the morning.
Ten fire crews were scrambled to tackle the blaze at the industrial estate, with firefighters working through the night to bring the flames under control. The sheer scale of the response gives some idea of just how serious the situation was.
Authorities issued the warning to nearby residents as thick smoke began to spread across the surrounding area. People were told to keep windows and doors closed as a precaution, with officials concerned about the potential impact of smoke inhalation on local communities.
The callout came in during the early hours, meaning crews were battling the fire in the dark with ten separate teams deployed to the scene. Getting that many crews together overnight points to just how quickly the fire took hold and how much of a challenge it posed for firefighters on the ground.
Industrial estate fires can be particularly difficult to deal with because of the range of materials and chemicals that can be stored in commercial and industrial units. The contents of those buildings can cause fires to spread rapidly and can also affect the quality of the air around the site.
No details have yet been released about what caused the fire or whether anyone was injured as a result of the blaze. Investigations into the cause are likely to follow once the fire has been fully extinguished and it is safe for officials to assess the damage.
Local people near the estate were advised to stay indoors where possible and to keep ventilation to a minimum until the smoke had cleared. Anyone with existing respiratory conditions would have been particularly advised to take those warnings seriously.
The scale of the emergency response, with ten crews attending, meant significant fire service resources were tied up at the scene for a considerable period. Fire services across Wales regularly deal with industrial incidents, but a response of this size is far from routine.
More details are expected to emerge as the investigation gets underway and firefighters continue to make the site safe.