FIREFIGHTERS remain at the scene of Yate's warehouse blaze, more than 42 hours after it took hold.

An Avon Fire and Rescue spokesman confirmed that crews from Temple fire station were this morning (Thursday) damping down hot spots within the ruined building. A cordon remains in place for the third day.

Fire crews began battling the huge warehouse blaze on Tuesday.

Fire tore through the AJM Pet Products building on the Beeches Industrial Estate after breaking out some time after 1.30pm.

Smoke from the fire on Waverley Road darkened the town’s skyline throughout the afternoon.

Fire crews from all over South Gloucestershire and Bristol were called to the pet supply store, when the alarm was raised at 1.40pm.

An evacuation took place at around 1.50pm of the warehouse and surrounding areas.

At the height of the fire widespread flames could be seen across the site and fire crews from Yate, Kingswood, Temple, Thornbury, Portishead and Bedminster were in attendance.

A turntable ladder - a large telescopic ladder which can be used to pump water - was used, as well as jets and high pressure hose reels. Thermal imaging cameras were also deployed, to monitor hot spots in the building.

Avon and Somerset Police cordoned off the area, and the roads around the trading estate were closed.

South Gloucestershire Council’s offices are located on Badminton Road, close to the scene of the incident.

Council worker Jackie Goss watched the blaze from her office window.

“There were massive flames coming out the top of the building at lunchtime,” she said.

“The flames were so high that we thought the fire must have been much closer to us than it actually was."

Sarah Parsons, who works at the Graphics Studio on the Stover Trading Estate said: “Big, black plumes of smoke were billowing out, and you could see lots of flames.

“There were crackling sounds - it was all going off like fireworks.

“All the water was switched off on the estate, so they could use it for putting the fire out.”

As well as using mains water, crews also pumped water from the nearby River Frome.

The cause of the fire is understood to be accidental.