Southampton fire: Major fire postpones Saints match
- Published
Watch: Fire rips through building near football stadium
A major fire near Southampton's St Mary's Stadium has resulted in their Championship match against Preston being called off.
A smoke plume coming from industrial units on Marine Parade could be seen from miles around.
One person has been treated for the effects of breathing in smoke but there are no other reported injuries, the ambulance service said.
Saints had been due to host Preston North End at 19:45 GMT.
At the height of the blaze, 18 fire engines were at the scene
The building has since collapsed
A cordon has been put in place in the area by emergency services and people have been advised to avoid the area.
In a statement released at 17:40, fire incident commander John Amos said: "We've got more than 100 personnel onsite working extremely hard to tackle a well-developed fire near to St Mary's Stadium in Southampton."
He continued: "We have been working closely with our partner agencies and Southampton Football Club throughout this incident."
The fire involved four industrial units - one of which has collapsed in flames - and Mr Amos said they expected to have a presence on the scene overnight and into Thursday.
Fire crews continue to tackle the blaze through the night
Watch: Drone video shows smoke over city
Some roads surrounding St Mary's have been closed and motorists have been asked not to travel to the area "to allow movements of emergency vehicles", the fire service added.
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary said it was assisting with road closures.
Residents and people working in the area have been advised to keep windows and doors closed due to the amount of smoke from the fire, which broke out just after 13:00.
A statement from South Central Ambulance Service said one patient had been treated for minor smoke inhalation at the scene.
The service said it would "remain on standby" and had a hazardous area response team on site, a tactical advisor and ambulance crews working with police and fire.
The fire service said four industrial units were impacted by the incident
Smoke has been seen "pouring over the north stand" of St Mary's Stadium, BBC reporter Curtis Lancaster said
The fire broke out just after 13:00 and was visible across the city
In a statement to supporters, Southampton said: "The decision was made after consultation with the local authorities and emergency services after a major fire broke out in a building next to the St Mary's Stadium site earlier today.
"The incident has caused significant disruption in the area with road closures around the stadium still in place as fire crews continue to deal with the situation.
"We are grateful for the cooperation of Preston and the EFL, and while we appreciate the disappointment fans may feel, we hope they will understand the need to put the safety of supporters and staff of both clubs first.
"The game will be postponed to a new date, which will be announced in due course, and all tickets for tonight's match will be valid for the rearranged fixture."
The smoke towers over western Southampton
Preston have also thanked their fans who had already made the journey to the south coast for their understanding.
It said an announcement would be made on Thursday regarding any potential compensation for travelling fans
BBC reporter Indy Almroth-Wright described the blaze as "immense" and said "pops" could be heard.
She said the roof of the warehouse had completely collapsed and all of the windows were blown out, with flames coming out of the gaps.
Preston fans have reacted to the postponement after their long trip to the south coast
People have been posting videos on social media showing thick black smoke rising into the sky
Hundreds of pallets are piled around the edges that are not yet affected by the blaze. Fork-lift trucks are being used to move them away from the area, she added.
The BBC's Curtis Lancaster said smoke was "pouring over the north stand" of St Mary's Stadium.
"Crowds of staff from the stadium have made their way outside and there was a loudspeaker announcement telling people to evacuate the stadium after an emergency situation," he added.
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- Published6 March
