Investigation underway after Lye fire. Businesses impacted, road closures in place. Firefighters tackled the major incident.
The fire impacted several businesses. People nearby needed to shut their windows. Fifty-four firefighters went to help, along with thirteen fire engines. Crews came from all over.
This was the second fire on Hayes Lane recently. On December 30, another fire occurred, with thirty firefighters responding in eight fire crews to tackle that blaze.
An investigation started to find the cause. Crews stayed at the scene on Sunday. Darryll Darkin, the incident commander, said its origin is still unknown.
The fire began at the back of one business. Then, it spread to three more businesses. Some places had minor damage, while others had structural problems; some buildings even collapsed from the fire.
Darryll Darkin shared that the fire started just before 6 p.m. Firefighters found building collapses, which made access difficult in some areas.
They planned to reduce the response while maintaining a presence. Hayes Lanes and Stour Vale Road stayed closed off. Firefighters used aerial platforms to damp down hot spots.
The fire service stated that the fire involved many businesses, but they stopped it from spreading. Crews worked with other agencies to safely end the incident. Road closures stayed in place overnight, and people should keep windows closed, they said.