Video: Yard fire near station sparks major alert

11:16am Monday 23rd April 2007

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A FIRE in a yard next to railway lines caused a major alert because of fears gas cylinders were present.

The fire broke out just after 1pm last Friday in William Foster Lane, Welling, one of the approaches to Welling station.

Staff from train company Southeastern alerted the emergency services and firefighters initially declared an exclusion zone around the fire for fear gas cylinders could explode.

Network Rail suspended train services temporarily, but they were resumed after 30 minutes when firefighters confirmed there were no cylinders on site.

A pall of thick, black, acrid smoke hung over the area as first a building and then two lorries caught alight and diesel fuel exploded.

Children outside playing at nearby St Stephen's Catholic Primary School in Ruskin Avenue, were ushered inside.

It is believed one man and two elderly women were treated for smoke inhalation.

• Reader Nick Macarthy caught some dramatic video footage of the blaze as the thick black smoke filled the sky - click here to watch

• To see a gallery of pictures of the fire sent in by readers click here

• Were you affected by the fire? Add your comments below. Send any pictures or videos you have from the scene - click here