Blackburn residents have been plunged into chaos this morning as fires engulf an industrial estate, leading to a spate of explosions that echoed through the town in the dead of night. Nearly a dozen fire engines have descended upon Sett End Road West as the Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service rush to control the inferno at a factory site.

Massive flames and billowing smoke are overwhelming local areas, causing authorities to urge residents across Blackburn to batten down hatches and keep windows and doors closed to avoid smoke invasion. At around 00:45, firefighters swarmed onto the scene of devastation amidst road blocks and clear skies turned dark by smoke.

Lancashire's Fire sevice issued a stark warning through a spokesperson, who stated: "We have 10 fire engines, two aerial ladder platforms and a firefighting robot at a commercial building fire on Sett End Road West, Blackburn." They continued, emphasizing no injuries have yet surfaced despite the fierce blaze that necessitated advisories for locals to seal off their houses against the smoke.

Nearby, Royal Blackburn Hospital stands defiant against the flames, confirmed open amidst the turmoil, police have confirmed. Yet the constabulary has cut off key roads including Haslingden Road as they grapple with the firestorm, reports The Mirror.

Such is the scale of the disaster that residents from Accrington, nearly seven miles away, bear witness to the sky lit ablaze. Fears spike online with concerned citizens taking to Facebook to issue urgent pleas: "Huge fire in Blackburn. Anyone living near the factory, call them, wake them up. Tell them to close their windows, in case of smoke inhalation. Get masks on. Might need to evacuate."

But despite the sense of emergency, an evacuation directive remains unissued by fire services. Residents took to social media to describe the chaos, with one tweeting: "Explosions been heard, as the fire rips through canisters The fire is spreading quickly."

Another local, who lives in the north of the Lancashire town, posted on X: "I can see a large fire from my Leamington Road residence. The fire looks like its near Blackburn Hospital." Despite the close proximity, operations at Royal Blackburn Hospital, which has over 700 beds, have not been disrupted and no evacuations have been necessary.

Further social media posts emphasized the enormity of the fire, believed to have started around 12.45am. One person tweeted: "It's absolutely mental, can see it from my window." Another shared: "It looks so bad, I hope no one is hurt."

The exact location of the fire on Sett End Road West, which is home to several warehouses and factories, is still unclear, as is the cause of the blaze.