Terrified locals recounted a “horrendous smell” after a monstrous blaze ravaged through a building yesterday evening.The inferno continues to rage on Thursday morning along Pepper Road in Leeds’ Hunslet district. Fire crews remain at the scene tirelessly trying to subdue the relentless flames.
However, the ordeal has sparked horror among residents who voiced their anxieties on social media. One alarmed resident posted on Facebook: “Crikey I’ve just been in my back garden and was an horrendous smell, I bet it was this.”The harrowing sight of the blaze elicited an “Oh my God” from another, while others mentioned hearing “Sounds like explosions”.
A passing motorway driver, even from miles away, shared: “I’ve just smelt this on M621.”
Local Councillor Paul Wray, standing for Hunslet and Riverside, updated constituents via Facebook: “I am aware of a fire on Pepper Road in Hunslet. The fire service is in attendance. I have no more details at this stage,” reports The Mirror.
West Yorkshire’s brave firefighters from four stations are at the forefront, battling the conflagration that burst into action around 9.30pm on Tuesday, prematurely labelled as a “large scrap yard fire.” The West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said on its website: “Approximately 25 metres by 15 metres. Three ground monitors, one large jet, two grab cranes and aerial used. The incident was handed back to owners (of the scrap yard).”
As firefighters vigorously tackle the blaze, details such as the fire’s origin and whether there have been significant injuries remain uncertain at present. Authorities have shut down Pepper Road for the ongoing emergency operation, redirecting traffic through Belle Isle and Balm Road areas in south Leeds this morning. Motorists are urged to dodge the vicinity completely if possible.
Witnesses from afar could spot the dense smoke and flames that are noticeable from considerable distances, signifying the scale of effort necessary to contain the disaster. Dedicated emergency crews are on the scene, striving to quell the fire swiftly.
