INVESTIGATORS are trying to establish the cause of a major blaze that destroyed three warehouses on an industrial estate.

Fire crews continued to damp down the fire at Chandlers Building Supplies in Basin Road North, Portslade, all night and police and fire investigators will continue their joint investigation into the cause this morning.

No one was hurt in the blaze, which started just before 9am yesterday. Witnesses believed it may have been caused by sparks from a disc grinder.

The blaze started in one warehouse which collapsed, and the flames spread to two others. The fire raged all day with ten fire crews in attendance at its peak.

People living nearby expressed concerns the vast plumes of acrid smoke could contain hazardous chemicals such as asbestos.

However East Sussex Fire and Rescue said the building was of prefabricated metal construction.

It said that although there was a large amount of smoke, it was not though to have contained anything more dangerous than standard fumes from a fire.

However residents continue to express concerns over the health impacts.

Glynn Daughtery, who was looking after her grandchildren, said: “There was so much thick black smoke. We kept all the windows and doors shut as they advised but you could still smell it.

“It really hit you in the back of the throat.”

The fire service described the incident as “enormous” and residents were urged to stay indoors and keep their windows closed as police cordoned off much of King’s Road.

Resident Simon Forrest said he spoke to a member of Chandlers staff at Hove Lagoon who speculated about the cause of the fire.

He said: “I asked him if it was the Chandlers warehouse and he said yes.

“Then he went on to explain that there were disc grinders being used to cut old ventilation ducting up. These sparked and set fire to something else.”

Emma Chick was one of the first on the scene – she was there before the fire crews arrived.

She said: “I was out for run and to start with just thought it was massive grey cloud. I kept running towards it.  I dont have any sense of smell so it was only when I got up close I realised how bad it was.” 

Police advised motorists to avoid Kingsway and urged residents to keep their windows shut for much of the day.

Witnesses spoke of their shock as the smoke engulfed Portslade and Hove.

Neil Smith, 43, of Portland Road, Hove, works near the warehouses and said he heard a very loud explosion coming from the site.

He said: “I work across from the site and when I went outside for my break, I saw smoke coming out of the main warehouse.

“Then, all of a sudden, there was a huge explosion.

“The first warehouse caught fire and then it spread to the second and third one.

“I believe two of the warehouses have collapsed but the fire engines managed to save the third one.

“It was very scary. I work on the docks and I felt the heat travelling across the water.

“I think there are very flammable materials like propane gas tanks inside the warehouse.

“The smell of the smoke was quite toxic.

“Boats had to be moved away in case they caught fire or got damaged by the smoke.”

Mark Taylor, 53, from New Church Road, Hove, said he was preparing to go to work when he saw the smoke.

He said: “I saw the smoke at around 8.45am. I was in my apartment block and I looked in both directions.

“I was doing some paperwork at the time and saw the sky was full of dark smoke.

“The smoke came from an industrial site near the docks, I heard sirens as fire engines raced to the scene.”

Witnesses walking along Kingsway also told The Argus the road was cordoned off to prevent residents and drivers inhaling smoke.

Cars and buses were also diverted away from the area and delivery lorries were forced to stop and park alongside the road.

Mother-of-two Leanne Gobel, 37, of Mile Oak Road, Portslade, said: “I was dropping off my children in Wish Road when I saw the smoke.

“I saw about seven fire engines heading to the warehouses. Police had to block off some traffic.

“Wish Road, Church Road and Portland Road were gridlocked because of the diversions.

“I couldn’t decide whether to take my little one to the doctors in Boundary Road because of the smoke.”

A spokeswoman for East Sussex Fire and Rescue service said: “A joint investigation between Sussex Police and East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service has begun to determine the cause of the fire.”

“Six fire appliances responded initially from Hove, Shoreham, Roedean and Newhaven along with a further two from Preston Circus.

“A further two fire appliances were dispatched from Lewes and Newhaven along with two aerial ladder platforms from Preston Circus and Worthing along with a water carrier.”

Further fire engines from Seaford and Worthing joined around lunchtime before the incident was scaled back at about 3pm.

However the structure was still being damped down and too hot to enter for most of the night.

This morning investigators are expected to be able to start in earnest.

A spokeswoman for Chandlers said: “The fire service is working at getting the situation under control. It appears that the fire started early in the morning. We do not know any further details at this stage. Most importantly, nobody has been harmed or injured.”

She was unable to confirm what the building was made of or what was inside.