Fire chiefs are still investigating the cause of a massive blaze that engulfed an industrial estate in Basingstoke on Thursday.
A Hampshire Fire and Rescue spokesman said an investigation has been launched into the Bessemer Road fire.
Fire crews were alerted at 12.30am on November 1 as flames were spotted from Bessemer Park, Grove, off The Harrow Way.
According to the fire service, the blaze started at the Ready Made Picture Frame Company headquarters in unit eight of the industrial estate.
The rapidly spreading fire lit up neighbouring units. No one was injured in the blaze.
Up to 100 firefighters from Basingstoke, Eastleigh, as well as crews from Berkshire, and Surrey were dispatched to the site.
Fifteen fire trucks and a aerial ladder platform were called to tackle the fire. Police closed off Bessemer Road, and Environment Agency officials were called to assess the threat of toxic chemicals.
Crews clad in breathing gear used high powered water jets and a fan spray to control the flames. Residents were advised to keep windows closed and stay indoors as thick smoke engulfed the area.
According to firefighters on the scene, there were several massive explosions as liquid propane gas (LPG) canisters were ignited.
Hampshire Fire and Rescue’s officer in charge, Steve Trevethick, said: “On arrival the initial crews were faced with a fully developed fire in the light industrial block, which was rapidly spreading from the front to the back of the building and across to other industrial units, with a large amount of smoke.
“Due to the swift, co-ordinated approach of crews we were able to prevent the fire spreading to further adjoining units and businesses, and contained the fire within 50 per cent of the industrial unit that was ablaze.
As the flames died down by the early morning, fire crews assessed the damage. Half of the 65m by 75m unit was destroyed and parts of building collapsed.
