More details have been confirmed after a fire tore through a commercial property in Watford over the weekend.
Multiple crews and Herts Police rushed to Hagden Lane shortly before 6am on Sunday as locals were urged to keep their windows and doors shut.
Herts Fire and Rescue Service have today (November 27) revealed that the blaze was at Lamberts London Ltd, a company that specialises in decorative metal finishing, plating and surface coating.
A fire service spokesperson told the Watford Observer: “Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service was called at 5:58am on Sunday 26 November, to reports of a fire in an industrial unit in Hagden Lane, Watford.
“Six fire engines, from Watford, Garston, Rickmansworth, Hemel Hempstead and Borehamwood were sent to the scene, where crews found a metal plating factory well alight.
“Firefighters tackled the fire with water and foam, made more complicated by the presence of chemicals used in the factory.”
HAGDEN LANE WATFORD
— RHODES SUN CLOCK LAND NEW LAND MARK TOWER PROPOSAL (@sunclocktower) November 26, 2023
INCIDENT POLICE AND FIRE SERVICES ATTENDING ..ROADS SHUT LOOKS SERIOUS 6.30-7am pic.twitter.com/HdPkzLWfJY
An onlooker reported seeing the police and fire service at the scene, saying it "looks serious" shortly before 7am.
At the time residents were urged to avoid the area as Herts Police closed Hagden Lane, Vicarage Road, Euston Avenue and surrounding streets.
A Herts Police spokesperson said: “Police were contacted just after 5.50am today to reports of a fire at a unit on Hagden Lane in Watford. Officers assisted the fire service with local road closures. No arrests were made and no injuries reported. All road closures have since been lifted.”
The blaze was eventually extinguished and the last fire engine left around five-and-a-half hours later at 11.30am.
It is believed to have been started accidentally, a fire service spokesperson said.
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Lamberts London Ltd was contacted for comment.
Its website says: “Award winning company Lamberts London are world-renowned specialists in decorative metal finishing, plating and surface coating.
“Since 1969, the expertise of our accomplished team has become synonymous with luxury decorative metal plated coatings across a broad range of sectors, providing the ultimate finishing touch for manufacturers, completion centres and designers.”
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