Littlehampton fire: Huge blaze at UK dump as black smoke billows into the sky
Pictures show a huge fire sending massive clouds of black smoke high into the sky.
A huge fire is raging in the popular seaside town of Littlehampton in West Sussex, with thick black smoke rising high into the sky.
Pictures shared on social media show black clouds of smoke seemingly rising high into the sky from a blaze reportedly at a dump site in Climyping.
Firefighters are tackling the blaze in Bairds Business Park off Grevatts Lane, according to reports.
The A259 has been closed by emergency services as more fire engines arrive at the blaze. West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service has warned that residents face huge delays in areas surrounding the industrial site.
The fire service said multiple 999 calls came in reporting the blaze at around 10.20am. A spokesperson for the service said: "We currently have eight fire engines, two water carriers and an aerial ladder platform responding to the incident.
"People who live nearby are urged to keep their doors and windows closed due to the amount of smoke in the area."
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Waste management firm at centre of blaze, report
Waste management facility Arun Waste is at the centre of the fire that broke out on Friday morning, The Argus reports.
Update issued for another bus service after road closure
Shortly before its last update, Stagecoach South warned passengers along its number 500 route may face disruption.
"#500 service to/from Littlehampton: customers at/for Yapton will need to board/alight at Drove Lane bus stop," the firm wrote on X.
"The service will run via Ford Road - Ford Lane - North End Road in both directions until further notice."
#500 service to/from Littlehampton: customers at/for Yapton will need to board/alight at Drove Lane bus stop. The service will run via Ford Road - Ford Lane - North End Road in both directions until further notice.
\u2014 Stagecoach South (@StagecoachSouth) August 30, 2024
Bus route out of action after A259 closed, Stagecoach South says
Stagecoach South has issued an update about one of its routes after emergency services shut the A259.
The bus operator, which operates in South East England, wrote on X: "#700 UPDATE: The A259 has been closed between Flansham and Climping.
"The 700 to Littlehampton is unable to run beyond Flansham. Customers at Littlehampton for Chichester should catch the 500; customers to Bognor will also need to catch the 500 and change at at Chichester."
#700 UPDATE: The A259 has been closed between Flansham and Climping. The 700 to Littlehampton is unable to run beyond Flansham. Customers at Littlehampton for Chichester should catch the 500; customers to Bognor will also need to catch the 500 and change at at Chichester.
\u2014 Stagecoach South (@StagecoachSouth) August 30, 2024
A259 closed by emergency services
The A259 has been closed by emergency services as more fire engines arrive at the blaze.
West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service has warned that residents face huge delays in areas surrounding the industrial site.
Smoke billowing up from the fire is moving southbound towards the sea, The Argus reports.
\u26a0\ufe0f UPDATE: Residents in #Littlehampton, #Elmer, #Middleton, #BognorRegis and the surrounding areas are urged to keep their doors and windows shut as the smoke is travelling to sea.
\u2014 West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service (@WestSussexFire) August 30, 2024
The A259 has now been closed and this is causing a huge amount of traffic. Please avoid the area.
Littlehampton fire: What we know
A fire broke out at an industrial unit in Climping, West Sussex, on Friday morning, with firefighters now on the scene.
Firefighters are tackling the blaze in Bairds Business Park off Grevatts Lane, according to reports.
Thick black smoke can reportedly be seen rising for miles from the site in West Sussex near Littlehampton.
