Overnight blaze damages warehouse at Northgate Business Park

A fire that broke out overnight at an industrial unit in Rotherham has caused significant damage, though no injuries have been reported. Crews from South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service were called to Northgate Business Park in the early hours of Wednesday following reports of smoke and flames coming from a warehouse unit.

The unit is occupied by Foundry & Freight Co., a metal fabrication and freight and haulage firm that has operated from the site for several years. Four fire engines attended the scene, with crews working through the night to bring the fire under control and stop it spreading to neighbouring units on the business park.

"Crews worked hard in difficult conditions to stop this fire spreading further across the business park. Thankfully, as the building was unoccupied at the time, there were no injuries."

A South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said the building had been closed and unoccupied overnight when the fire broke out, which meant no one was put at risk. Early indications suggest the fire may have started in the loading bay area, possibly linked to charging equipment, although a full investigation into the exact cause has not yet concluded. Fire crews said the incident is not currently being treated as suspicious.

Joseph Carter, director of Foundry & Freight Co., said the business was "still assessing the full extent of the damage" but was relieved no one had been hurt.

"This has obviously been a huge shock for all of us. Thankfully nobody was on site overnight, and no one was injured. Our priority now is working with our insurers to get things back up and running as quickly as we can, for the sake of our staff and everyone who relies on us," he said.

Foundry & Freight Co. employs around a dozen staff and supplies fabricated steel components and haulage services to businesses across South Yorkshire. It is not yet known how long repairs to the site are likely to take.

At a glance

• Location: Northgate Business Park, Rotherham

• Business affected: Foundry & Freight Co.

• Call-out time (approx.): 2.40am, Wed 10 June

• Crews attended: 4 engines, SYFRS

• Casualties: None reported

• Status: Under control by approx. 6am; cause under investigation