A tower block has burst into flames amid reports of an ‘explosion’ at the building, with emergency crews now battling to quell the blaze.
The terrifying inferno was sparked shortly after 12.30pm in Tothill Car Park, in Staines-upon-Thames.
A huge plume of thick black smoke can be seen billowing into the sky, with locals reporting a loud ‘explosion’ moment before the blaze ignited.
Emergency services are at the scene battling to extinguish the flames.
Residents have been warned to stay indoors while keeping their windows and doors closed.
Worried locals have been sharing footage of the fire online, with one woman saying: ‘Just heard a huge explosion outside my house – a tower block under construction down the road is now up in flames in Staines Upon Thames.’
A tower block has burst into flames amid reports of an ‘explosion’ at the building, with emergency crews now battling to quell the blaze
Horrified residents have been sharing images of the ablaze building on X
X account ‘Staines-Upon-Thames’, which provides information about the area, warned there is a ‘big fire’ at the moment.
‘Big fire in #staines at the moment, please avoid Staines to allow the emergency services to do their job,’ the account said.
Others posted videos showing the thick smoke rising high into the sky, and flames raging at the top of the building.
One person added: ‘Just watched the scaffolding come down and now it’s on fire. Not keen to go back into the office right now.’
Another account said: ‘Huge fire broken out in Staines town centre. Looks to be from the rooftop of the new flats being built.’
‘Fire on roof of high rise apartment block in Staines right now looks very bad,’ someone told LBC.
The cause of the blaze is not yet known.
However, emergency services are now at the scene.
A fire service spokesman said: ‘We received a call this afternoon around 12.30pm to a report of a fire at the former Tothill Car Park, Elmsleigh Road, Staines-upon-Thames. Crews remain at the scene tackling the fire.
‘Please can you avoid the area if possible and we ask residents to keep their windows shut.
This is a breaking news story. Updates to follow.