Twentieth anniversary of Portswood Pallets fire in Southampton

More than 50 firefighters tackled the huge blaze on April 6, 2004, as flames of up to 60ft soared into the air at the height of the fire on an industrial estate in the city.

The blaze at Portswood Pallets in Empress Road in Bevois Valley, caused thousands of pounds of damage.

Firefighters found themselves in severe danger controlling the blaze as giant piles of wooden pallets constantly threatened to collapsed on top of them as they sprayed the scene with hoses.

Dozens of pallets in an outside storage area were also destroyed, as well as three forklift trucks.

The blaze also wrecked two temporary buildings and left a lorry burned out.

Firefighters battled for more than two hours to ensure flames, which could be seen from about two miles away, did not spread to nearby buildings.

Crews arrived at the scene just before midnight and emergency services were inundated with calls from people living nearby.

A team of firefighters remained on the site for much of the morning while the fire burnt itself out.

An ambulance remained on site as a precaution during the fire but no one needed treatment.

Crews from Southampton’s St Mary’s, Hightown and Redbridge fire station’s attended the blaze as well as crews from Eastleigh, Hamble and Lyndhurst.

It was the second huge blaze to hit the pallet depot in just six months.

More than 35 firefighters were called to the site the previous October during the late morning, which saw a neighbouring warehouse also catch fire.

Scores of workers from businesses on the Empress Park Industrial Estate were evacuated as firefighters battled to bring the blaze under control. 

Police had to cordon off busy Empress Road at both ends as trees caught fire at the side of a railway line that runs alongside the industrial unit.