Explosions heard as blaze rages through industrial estate in large town (2025)

Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service has warned people to shut windows and doors as a fire at a building on Sett End Road West, Blackburn, which is near a hospital

Residents across Blackburn were been warned to keep windows and doors shut - as a fire raged through an industrial estate.

Multiple explosions were heard shortly after the blaze started, reportedly at a factory, on Sett End Road West, which is in the southeast of the Lancashire town. Crews in ten fire engines tackled the blaze, which led to road closures.

A spokesperson for Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service had said: "We have 10 fire engines, two aerial ladder platforms and a firefighting robot at a commercial building fire on Sett End Road West, Blackburn.

"Firefighters were called at 00:45 and a number of roads are closed in the local area. There is also a large smoke plume and anyone who can see or smell smoke is strongly advised to close windows and doors. No injuries have been reported."

Royal Blackburn Hospital is near the industrial estate but it, police stress, remained open. Lancashire Constabulary added streets, including Haslingden Road, were closed or partially closed as firefighters tackled the blaze.

Have you been affected by the Blackburn fire? Contact webnews@mirror.co.uk

People as far as Accrington, which is around seven miles away, could see flames and smoke billow into the sky on Monday morning. One person, thought to be in Accrington, wrote on Facebook: "Huge fire in Blackburn. Anyone living near the factory, call them, wake them up. Tell them to close their windows, in case of smoke inhalation. Get masks on. Might need to evacuate." The fire service has not officially asked people to leave their homes as yet.

Haslingden Road, which connects the area to the M65 and central Blackburn, was closed completely until around 4am. It since opened partially, but police advised motorists to expect delays.

Writing on Facebook, Lancashire Police said: "We want to provide an update. Haslingden Road is now open however is down to one lane in order for the fire service to use their equipment. At the moment Shadsworth Industrial Estate remains closed whilst the fire service tackle the fire. Please avoid this area if you can."

Someone tweeted: "Explosions been heard, as the fire rips through canisters The fire is spreading quickly." Another local, who lives in the north of the Lancashire town, posted on X: "I can see a large fire from my Leamington Road residence. The fire looks like its near Blackburn Hospital."

But, at the time of writing, operations continued at Royal Blackburn Hospital and no one there had to be evacuated. The hospital, which opened in 2006, has more than 700 beds.

Further tweets and Facebook posts stress the huge scale of the fire, believed to have started at around 12.45am. One person tweeted: "It’s absolutely mental, can see it from my window." Another shared this morning: It looks so bad, I hope no one is hurt." It is unclear which building is on fire on Sett End Road West but the road, which is just off the M65, is home to various warehouses and factories. The cause of the blaze also remains unclear at this early stage.