Firefighters battling Treforest industrial estate blaze as one remains missing

14 December 2023 , 07:24

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One person remains missing after a fire ravaged an industrial premises last night as firefighters are still battling the blaze.

Emergency services dashed to Treforest industrial estate in south Wales at around 7pm to reports of an explosion. A major incident was declared and, despite battling the blaze into the early hours, South Wales Fire and Rescue Service says one person remains unaccounted for. This monring they said they were still tackling the fire.

In its last press briefing, the service said: "There are no reports of any serious injuries. However, one person remains unaccounted for. Residents living nearby are advised to close all doors and windows while this incident is continuing. Businesses in the area are requested to implement their own business continuity plans to deal with the ongoing road closures which will affect them throughout the night and into the morning."

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A huge fire tore through an industrial building, thought to be a gym, in south Wales (Leon Broadstock)

Alex Davies-Jones, MP for Pontypridd, said on Wednesday evening: "There have been a couple of walking wounded, but not more than that at the moment. We will know more in the morning."

The fire service said initial calls concerned an "explosion" at Mindset Gym, which is on the industrial estate. One woman caught up in the fire says it is an "absolute miracle" no one was seriously hurt. Bailey Wright, believed to be in the car park when the fire started, wrote on Facebook: "Have no words to explain the last few hours, definitely someone looking over us all tonight at the gym!

Holiday family return to find everything they own - even cat - destroyed in fire

"Can’t thank staff at Mindset Functional Fitness enough for acting so quickly getting everyone out, remaining calm and informing the emergency services!! A absolute miracle that nobody was hurt. Things could have been so different!"

The nursery teacher added: "Credit to the Rhyd rugby boys for finding a way out of somewhere that felt impossible if they hadn’t had got through the fence we could possibly have been stuck in the car park for hours with no way in or out."

There is also a dance studio and at least one car dealership on the industrial park in Treforest, a village near Pontypridd, around 12 miles north of Cardiff.

The fire service said the commercial property was 'totally alight' when they arrived

An investigation resumes into the cause of the large fire

Posting on Facebook, business owner Lucy Artiss said: "My tattoo shop and gym just exploded. Lost everything but thankfully not hurt. I feel numb, to be honest. That gym was my favourite place. Looks like I'll need to find a new shop. So gutted but hey, everything will be replaced. It is what is is."

All major hospitals in south Wales were put on "major incident alert", with locals urged to stay away unless seriously injured or ill - but this alert was later lifted.

More than 10 police and fire service vehicles were spotted at the scene after neighbours said they heard a loud bang before the huge fire broke out. The cause of the blaze is yet to be determined.

Emergency services says one person remains missing following the fire (UKNIP)

Residents living nearby are this morning advised to close all doors. Emergency services continue to investigate as, last night, it was feared the two-storey building was "at risk of collapse".

South Wales Fire and Rescue Service Deputy Chief Fire Officer, Dewi Rose, said: "At 7.05pm this evening SWFRS responded to a number of repeat calls about an explosion at Mindset Gym, Rizla House, Severn Road on Treforest Industrial Estate, Pontypridd.

"SWFRS currently has 16 pumping appliances, a number of special appliances and officers in attendance. The latest from the scene is that the building, a large multi-use two storey commercial premises, is totally alight and at risk of collapse.

"Our partners from South Wales Police, WAST, Wales & West Utilities, NRW, RCTCBC, CTMUHB and National Grid are supporting us to deal with the incident, and at the moment our focus is firmly fixed on the emergency response."