Tandridge Buzz

Surrey Police, Surrey Fire and Rescue and the Health and Safety Executive are continuing to investigate how a large fire started at the Hobbs Industrial Estate last week, which left eight people injured.

Shortly before 11.30am on Monday, 3 October, the emergency services were called to Hobbs Industrial Estate on Eastbourne Road, following an explosion.

As a precaution the surrounding premises were evacuated.

Eight people were taken to hospital following the fire. One casualty remains at the Queen Victoria Hospital, East Grinstead, for serious injuries. The remaining casualties have been discharged from hospital.

“The emergency services all worked together to return the industrial estate to normality as soon as possible as we were very aware a number of business premises had been affected,” said Tandridge Neighbourhood Inspector Angie Austin.

“We are still investigating what happened at Unit 33c and officers are assisting Surrey Fire and Rescue and the Health and Safety Executive to determine how the blaze started.

“I would once again like to thank the business community at Hobbs Industrial Estate for their patience and co-operation during this last week. It is important we, the Health and Safety Executive and Surrey Fire and Rescue gather crucial evidence which will hopefully help us establish exactly how this fire started.”

No arrests have been made.

Emergency services remain on the scene at the Hobbs Industrial Estate in Newchapel today (5 October), as they continue to investigate the caus of the explosion that left eight people injured — four seriously.

The explosion took place at around 1130am on Monday 3 October and the scene was attended by firefighters, ambulance crews, police and the Environment Agency.

Police are assisting Surrey Fire and Rescue Service and the Health and Safety Executive in investigating the cause of the blaze, which continues to be dampened down.

Of the eight people injured — two are being treated Queen Victoria Hospital, East Grinstead, for serious injuries and another is receiving treatment at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, also for serious injuries.

The other four injured people were treated for minor injuries and have now been discharged from hospital.

The Hobbs Industrial Estate has been partially reopened.

A number of household rubbish collections have been delayed as a result of the fire because the refuse vehicles are based on the industrial estate. The areas affected include Warlingham, Whyteleafe, Tatsfield, Woldingham, Chelsham, Oxted and Limpsfield.

Tandridge District Council is asking residents to leave their rubbish and recycling out for collection as usual and advise that, it if it not collected yesterday, it will be collected today.

East Surrey MP Sam Gyimah has paid tribute to the emergency teams who battled against the explosion and fire at the Hobbs Industrial Estate in Newchapel yesterday.

A total of eight people were injured — four seriously — following the blast. Over 60 firefighters battled with the blaze and progress was slow and difficult due to the presence of bulk liquid petroleum gas and liquid petroleum gas cylinders.

The Ambulance Service ensured those injured were swiftly evacuated while the Environment Agency also played its part in helping limit the damage to the surrounding environment. Gyimah had been at the Conservative Party Conference when he heard about the explosion and headed straight back.

“The scale of the destruction at the Hobbs Industrial Estate last night was truly terrifying,” he said.

“By the time I arrived from Manchester where Party Conference is currently underway, the Fire and Rescue Services had got the fire under control and secured the area.

“Sadly, it seems that eight people are injured, four seriously, and my thoughts are with them and their families.

“The emergency response from all of the teams was fantastic and I have nothing but the utmost praise for their efforts. Once the investigation into the cause of the fire is complete, life in Newchapel can begin to recover.”

Meanwhile, Tandridge District Council has warned that rubbish and recycling collections are delayed today because of the incident.

Eight people have been injured — four seriously — after an explosion and “major” fire at the Hobbs Industrial Estate on Eastbourne Road in Newchapel.

The Fire Brigade were called to the incident at 11.23am. Crews from Surrey, East and West Sussex were faced with a serious and rapidly expanding fire.

In total, 12 appliances, one aerial ladder platform and three water carriers attended the incident.

The fire occurred in a single-storey building and crews initially worked to tackle the fire and protect the surrounding premises using foam and water to bring it under control.

Progress was slow and difficult due to the presence of bulk liquid petroleum gas and liquid petroleum gas cylinders, which were exposed to heat from the fire and the various chemicals used and stored on the premises.

The surrounding premises have been evacuated as a precautionary measure and the buildings in the immediate vicinity are likely to remain closed until tomorrow.

The South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAMB) also deployed their hazardous area response team, two air ambulances and two doctors to the scene.

The Environment Agency has been assisting the fire service in dealing with the fire water run-off to protect the environment.

Residents living near the Hobbs Industrial Estate  in are urged to keep their windows shut and to stay away from the area.

A police spokesman said: “It is still too early to speculate on the cause of the fire and we will, of course, be supporting Surrey Police and the Health and Safety Executive to undertake a full and thorough investigation into the possible cause.

“The police would ask that members of the public stay away from the area for the rest of the day.”

East Surrey MP Sam Gyimah said he was leaving the Conservative Party Conference to head back.

“Utterly shocked by the explosion at the Hobbs Industrial Estate in Lingfield. My thoughts are with the families affected.”