An industrial unit has been severely damaged after a dramatic fire involving multiple vehicles.

Firefighters rushed to the industrial unit in Bitterne Road West early on Sunday morning as a massive plume of smoke towered over the city.

It took them more than eight hours to get the fire under control, and crews remained at the scene for most of Sunday.

The smoke could be seen as far away as Millbrook and Southampton’s cruise terminals, where ships were arriving, while a smell of burning could be picked up more than two miles away.

The phenomenal power of the blaze meant it quickly spread to neighbouring buildings, with video footage showing explosions from the blaze as firefighters worked to contain the flames.

Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service (HFRS) has launched an investigation to ascertain the cause.

At the height of the incident, more than 80 firefighters were fighting the blaze, with eleven fire engines, two aerial ladder platforms and other specialist vehicles in use.

(Image: HFRS)

Matt Bond was on his way to the gym when he noticed the plume of smoke, first thinking it was a “huge dark cloud”.

The 43-year-old from Hedge End said: “I was driving to the gym in Bitterne and noticed a huge dark cloud when I was driving down Thornhill Park Road, and as I got closer to Bitterne I saw that it was a plume of smoke, which was growing at a really fast pace.

“When I parked up I could clearly see the base of the cloud and huge flames but couldn’t get a sense of where it was, I figured perhaps one of the industrial units down by the stadium again.

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“At this point 2 or 3 fire engines came past me from the direction I came from. The black smoke quickly turned white and was all but gone by the time I left the gym, but the smoke had started to fill the air where I had parked.”

The attention of fire crews was focused on industrial units between Bitterne Road West and Quayside Road.

Drone footage shot by Gavin Blackford shows the flames originating from a structure in the middle of the site, between vehicle recovery company Ravenscroft and marquee and linings manufacturer Custom Covers.

Bitterne Road West was quickly shut, with firefighters using the BP petrol station immediately opposite Ravenscroft as a base.

(Image: NQ)

Representatives from Rapid Relief Team, a charity which provides food and drinks to first responders, also quickly made their way to the scene.

Fallon Pack, who lives on Steuart Road, was in her garden having a cup of tea after being woken by her baby at 4.30am.

She started to notice a little bit of smoke before hearing a couple of bangs.

Fallon said: “We were in the garden having a cup of tea as my baby wakes up at 4.30am when we noticed a little bit of smoke so we walked out to the front of the house and started to video it live on TikTok.

“You could hardly see any flames to start with then we heard a couple of bangs which made a few neighbours come out.

“It got wider and the flames got high the plume was actually quite pretty and luckily the wind was blowing in the other direction so it didn’t smell.

“Once it had been put out there was a distinct smell of burning plastic in the garden.”

(Image: @jthomasrees/X)

She added she was worried that the fire was going to spread to the houses next door, and said it was “certainly a wake up call”.

“From where we were it looked like it was going to spread to the houses next to it so was a little bit worried for them and the bangs made me wonder if there was going to be a big explosion, you never know.

“It was certainly a wake up call.”

One Rampart Road resident said: “The fire is right next to our house, but I had no idea until I looked out the window and saw the fire engines.

Meanwhile, the MP for the area also thanked firefighters for their work.

Labour MP for Southampton Itchen, Darren Paffey, said in a post on X on Sunday morning:

“Huge thanks to [HFRS] teams who have been tackling the serious fire in Bitterne Manor.”

The industrial site is located near Bitterne station, and is sandwiched between the railway line, Bitterne Road West, Quayside Road and the gardens of houses on Rampart Road.

It is next door to Bitterne Manor Primary School. It is understood there was no damage to the school caused by the fire.

Hampshire Constabulary were also called to the incident and quickly closed Bitterne Road West between Quayside Road and Athlestan Road/Bullar Road.

Traffic built up on diversion routes as residents woke up, with Cobden Bridge congested by 10am.