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Firefighters have successfully scaled back their response to a significant blaze on Bircholt Road on Saturday afternoon after a fire, which originated in a bin shed, spread to a commercial building.
Emergency services were alerted to the incident at 3:24 PM on Saturday, 11 April. At the height of the fire, six fire engines and a technical rescue unit were deployed to the scene.
As of 5:20 PM, Kent Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that “good progress” had been made. A previous advisory for local residents and commuters to keep windows and doors closed due to heavy smoke has been lifted.
While the fire caused significant concern as it jumped from an external bin storage area to the main commercial premises, the swift arrival of crews prevented further escalation. Kent Police remain on-site to assist with traffic control in the Bircholt Road area. Drivers are advised to expect minor delays as the remaining three crews dampen down hotspots.
There are currently no reported injuries, and the exact cause of the initial fire in the bin shed remains under investigation.