Cowes, Isle of Wight, UK. 26th January, 2016. An Investigation is underway into the cause of a huge fire at a car workshop. Dozens of firefighters tackled the fire that sent a thick plume of black smoke over the Solent. Up to 40 firefighters were involved in a massive operation to put out the fire in Cowes on the Isle of Wight. Residents and businesses were evacuated as a 200-metre cordon was set up around the site in Medina Village. Credit: uknip/Alamy Live News
Cowes,Isle of Wight Tuesday 26th January 2016 An Investigation is underway into the cause of a huge fire at a car workshop. Dozens of firefighters tackled the fire that sent a thick plume of black smoke over the Solent. Up to 40 firefighters were involved in a massive operation to put out the fire in Cowes on the Isle of Wight. Residents and businesses were evacuated as a 200-metre cordon was set up around the site in Medina Village. The blaze broke out at the car workshop off Bridge Road at about and an area 100 metres squared was ablaze with several business units affected. It took firefighters more than four hours to dampen the fire, while the cordon remained in place due to safety fears over canisters which were believed to be on the site. Dozens of boats and cars are understood to be at the site and several businesses were affected, with thousands of pounds worth of equipment destroyed. The Cowes Carnival group have said they have "lost everything", with two floats destroyed in the blaze and other equipment. A temporary place of shelter was set up by the Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service, who were assisted by colleagues from Hampshire and police. The blaze also caused major disruption for ferry services, with the Red Funnel vehicle ferry suspended for several hours while service on the Cowes floating bridge was also suspended. A boom has been put across the River Medina to prevent contamination. Residents were asked to keep their windows shut as a precaution. An investigation into the cause of the fire has now begun. No-one was seriously injured during the fire but two people were treated for smoke inhalation. Eyewitness Alex Gardner, a naval architect at Sustainable Marine Energy in nearby Trinity Wharf, said: "Emergency services are still on site working to control the fire, although we can still see flames over the top of some of the smaller sheds. "And there is the occasional loud bang we can hear from the other side of the ri
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