Southampton has had to cancel their Championship match against Preston due to a significant fire that occurred close to St Mary’s Stadium.
For kilometres around, one could see a plume of smoke rising from the industrial buildings along Marine Parade.
According to the ambulance service, one person has received treatment for the consequences of breathing in smoke; no further injuries have been reported.
Preston North End was to host Saints at 19:45 GMT.
Emergency services have cordoned off the area and issued a warning to the public to stay away.
Fire incident commander John Amos stated in a statement published at 17:40 that “we’ve got more than 100 personnel onsite working extremely hard to tackle a well-developed fire near to St Mary’s Stadium in Southampton.”
He went on: “We have been working closely with our partner agencies and Southampton Football Club throughout this incident.”
Four industrial units were engaged in the fire, one of which caught fire. Mr. Amos stated that they anticipated being on the scene through Thursday.
The fire department also stated that some of the roads that surround St. Mary’s have been closed, and drivers are urged not to go to the area “to allow movements of emergency vehicles”.
Road closure assistance was provided, according to Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary.
The volume of smoke from the fire, which started just after 13:00, has prompted locals and employees to keep their windows and doors closed.
According to a South Central Ambulance Service statement, one patient received on-site treatment for mild smoke inhalation.
With a tactical advisor on hand, ambulance workers collaborating with police and firefighters, and a hazardous area response team on site, the service declared it would “remain on standby”.
“The decision was made after consultation with the local authorities and emergency services following a major fire that broke out in a building next to the St Mary’s Stadium site earlier today,” Southampton wrote in a message to supporters.
“Road closures surrounding the stadium remain in place while fire crews continue to address the situation, causing significant disruption in the area.”
“While we acknowledge the sadness fans may feel, we hope they will understand the need to prioritise the safety of both clubs’ employees and supporters. We are grateful for Preston’s and the EFL’s cooperation.
“The game will be postponed to a new date, which will be announced in due course, and all tickets for tonight’s match will be valid for the rearranged fixture.
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