Yahoo News Thick black clouds of smoke as major fire breaks out in grain warehouse at port
Firefighters have been dealing with a large fire in a warehouse at the Port of Tyne.
Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service was called to Tyne Grain Company at Tyne Dock, South Shields, at around 2.15pm.
Thick clouds of black smoke coming from the site could be seen for miles around
Eyewitness Angie Comerford said: "It looks like a massive building inside the compound.
“There were huge flumes of smoke and flames as I passed.
"Hopefully no one has been hurt. It’s a biggy that’s for sure."
Firefighters tackling the fire (Image: North News) People have been advised to avoid the area and residents have been told to keep their doors and windows closed.
A spokesman for the fire service said: "Our first crew was on scene within two minutes of receiving the call, with six fire appliances and two aerial ladder platforms currently in attendance."
North East Ambulance Service has also been in attendance but there are no reported casualties.
A spokesperson for the Port of Tyne said: "Shortly before 3pm, we were made aware of a fire in a warehouse on site.
"The fire and rescue service were quickly on the scene and are managing the situation with our operations team.
"There are no reported injuries at this time and further updates will be made available in due course."
The scene of the fire on Wednesday afternoon (Image: North News)Get more from The Northern Echo and stay informed with a digital subscription. Our offer in June is £4 for 4 months. Click here to find out more.
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It is understood international ferry services from the area are not affected.
A DFDS spokesperson said: "At this time, we can confirm that DFDS ferry services are currently unaffected by the fire.
"Our operations continue as scheduled, and we are working in close collaboration with the Port of Tyne authorities to ensure the safety of our passengers, staff, and vessels.
"We will provide updates if there are any changes to our services as a result of the incident.
"Passengers with reservations or travel plans are encouraged to check our website or contact our customer service for the latest information."
