NINE fire engines and specialist crews were called to a large commercial fire in Fordingbridge late last night with several still on scene.

Firefighters were mobilised at 10.52pm to the incident at an industrial site in Fordingbridge, prompting a significant response from Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service alongside support from Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service.

Crews from across the region attended, including on-call and wholetime firefighters from Salisbury Fire Station, as well as teams from Cranborne, Ferndown, Springbourne, Verwood and Westbourne.

An aerial ladder platform from Westbourne was also deployed, allowing firefighters to tackle the blaze from above as they worked to bring it under control.

The incident required a large-scale, multi-agency response, with emergency services working together through the night in what has been described as a coordinated and complex operation.

It has been reported that the fire swept through the building causing its roof to collapse.

While crews were tied up at the scene, cover had to be maintained elsewhere.

A team from Wilton Fire Station was mobilised shortly before 11.30pm to provide standby cover at Salisbury, ensuring the wider area remained protected.

(Picture: Wilton Fire Station)

They remained in place until the early hours of the morning, returning to station at around 1.22am as the incident was scaled back.

Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire & Rescue Service said the cause of the fire was currently unknown and there were no injuries reported.

Road closures have been in place on Green Lane and Salisbury Road.

The scale of the response highlights the pressures faced by fire services when dealing with major incidents, particularly in rural areas where resources can be stretched across a wide geography.

It also comes at a time when proposals to close several fire stations across Wiltshire and Dorset are under consultation, raising questions about future resilience during large-scale emergencies.