Cannock fire: Firefighters warn over toxic contents at parcel warehouse as they battle huge blaze

Holly Evans and Jane Dalton
·7-min read

A huge fire at an industrial estate in Staffordshire has caused businesses to be evacuated while residents have been urged to close their windows.

Huge plumes of black smoke are visible for nearly 20 miles as firefighters continue to tackle the blaze near the A460 Orbital Island in Cannock.

Emergency services were called at 6.15am after a fire started at Super Smart Services, a distribution warehouse that contains a variety of materials for delivery.

No injuries have been reported, and a spokesperson for Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service said no one was in the building at the time.

Dramatic footage shared on social media shows thick smoke billowing into the sky, with one local reporting hearing a series of “explosions” during the early hours.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, the fire service said: “Fighters are asking all residents to close windows and doors due to smoke and all local businesses to evacuate.”

Please see below for what was our live coverage.

Key Points

Welcome to our live coverage of this event

11:59 , Holly Evans

Welcome to our live coverage as firefighters continue to tackle a large fire in Staffordshire, with local businesses forced to evacuate.

We’ll be bringing you all the latest updates here.

Full story: Huge blaze breaks out at industrial estate

12:01 , Holly Evans

Businesses have been evacuated and residents are being urged to close their windows after a huge fire broke at an industrial estate in Staffordshire.

Footage shared on social media shows large plumes of black smoke billowing into the sky near the A460 Orbital Island in Cannock with 10 fire engines rushing to the scene at 6:15am.

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service said the fire started at Super Smart Services – a distribution warehouse “which contains a variety of different materials for delivery”.

Read the full article here:

Huge fire breaks out at industrial estate as businesses told to evacuate

Statement from Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service

12:06 , Holly Evans

In a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter, Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service said: “ We are at the scene of a large warehouse fire on Cley Road in Cannock.

“We’re advising the public to avoid the area. If you live nearby and feel you are affected, we recommend closing your windows and doors as a precaution. We will share updates as soon as we’re able to.”

They had previously said that 10 fire engines were in attendance as well as specialist equipment.

Pictures from the scene

12:12 , Holly Evans

Smoke seen billowing into the sky from the warehouse (@SMitchellPoker/PA Wire)
Smoke seen billowing into the sky from the warehouse (@SMitchellPoker/PA Wire)
Firefighters seen at the scene near Orbital Island (Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service/PA Wire)
Firefighters seen at the scene near Orbital Island (Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service/PA Wire)

Locals spotted ‘huge plume of smoke’ while out this morning

12:24 , Holly Evans

Sam Winter, a 32-year-old scaffolder, captured footage of the fire. He said: “I drove out of Cannock Chase to a plume of smoke, so I drove all the way following it to get a video as my mum works across the road from there.”

Rob Humphries, who lives in Abbots Bromley, noticed smoke while out walking his dog.

The 36-year-old, who took a picture of what he saw, said: “I was out on the morning dog walk and spotted a huge plume of smoke in the distance.

“It appeared to be coming from the other side of Cannock Chase, in the direction of Cannock.”

Local resident heard a series of ‘explosions’ in the morning

12:34 , Holly Evans

One person wrote on social media that they’d heard a series of “explosions” during the early hours of the morning.

Another told BirminghamLive that residents in neighbouring towns had woken up to ash “all over” thier cars”.

Residents have reported ash on their cars in neighbouring towns (DavidGouge/X)
Residents have reported ash on their cars in neighbouring towns (DavidGouge/X)

Full police statement

12:55 , Holly Evans

Staffordshire Police shared an update on behalf of fire and police, which said: “We are at the scene of a large warehouse fire in Cannock. Crews got a call just before 6.15am this morning (Thursday 9 May) to an address on Cley Road.

“We’ve currently got lots of firefighters down there alongside other colleagues from West Midlands Fire Service and Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service to help bring the fire under control.”

Shopping centre forced to close

13:15 , Holly Evans

Cannock Orbital shopping centre has been forced to close this morning as a result of the large blaze.

Located near the A460 Orbital Island, the centre has a number of shops including Boots, Homebase and Sainsbury’s.

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service has asked local businesses to evacuate and residents have been told to close their windows.

Latest drone pictures show extent of blaze

13:45 , Holly Evans

A view taken from a drone of the fire at Super Smart Services near the A460 Orbital Island (Phil Barnett/PA Wire)
A view taken from a drone of the fire at Super Smart Services near the A460 Orbital Island (Phil Barnett/PA Wire)
(Phil Barnett/PA Wire)
(Phil Barnett/PA Wire)

Drone footage shows extent of damage after fire breaks out in warehouse

14:23 , Holly Evans

Firefighters expect road closures to continue for some time

14:49 , Holly Evans

In their latest statement, Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service said: “We can confirm that no-one has been reported injured and the building has been evacuated as firefighters continue to deal with an industrial fire in Cannock.

“Crews got a call just before 6.15am this morning (Thursday 9 May) to an address on Cley Road.

“Whilst we’re working hard to minimise the disruption on local businesses and residents in the area, we expect road closures to be in place in the area for some time.

“Luckily, the weather is playing into our favour and excess smoke is being carried high into the air and away from residents living nearby. We’re continuing to advise people who feel they are affected to close their windows and doors as a precaution whilst we continue to work at the scene.”

Road closures are expected to remain in place as firefighters continue to tackle the scene (Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service)
Road closures are expected to remain in place as firefighters continue to tackle the scene (Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service)

Firefighters warn of ‘dangerous’ situation around warehouse

15:25 , Holly Evans

Businesses have been told to evacuate and locals have been urged to keep their windows shut as the blaze continues, with firefighters warning of toxic contents within the parcel warehouse.

Glynn Luznjy from Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service told ITV News: “It’s very dangerous in terms of the situation close to it. Our firefighters have taken defensive measures to make sure the fire is contained, it won’t spread any further”.

Latest statement from firefighters as fire continues

16:07 , Holly Evans

In their latest statement, Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service describe the blaze as a “large and significant fire” and confirm that no one has been reported injured.

Weather lifting plume of smoke up high

18:08 , Jane Dalton

Fire crews say they have been trying to reduce the effect of the large black plume of smoke over the area, but that weather conditions are lifting it high into the air.

Deputy Chief Fire Officer Glynn Luznyj said: “If anybody feels they are affected by the smoke plume, please move out of it, please close doors and windows and stay safe.”

18:40 , Jane Dalton

We are now putting our live coverage on hold.

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