Overview
- Cleveland Fire Brigade, which declared the Yarm Lane fire under control on Wednesday, has scaled back resources but says crews will stay on scene for an extended period.
- Six engines and an incident command unit from Middlesbrough, Stockton, Thornaby and Saltburn fought the morning blaze as thick smoke spread across Teesside.
- Yarm Lane and nearby footpaths remain closed due to concerns about the structure’s stability, and the public has been asked to avoid the area.
- Galaxy Blinds called the damage “catastrophic” and paused operations, with phone lines expected to be down for a few days while the family-run firm responds.
- Some nearby properties were evacuated with a rest centre opened at Splash, Northern Powergrid worked to restore outages with most due back by midday Thursday, and the cause of the fire remains under investigation.