Overview
- County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service was called at 10:42am on Thursday after a car fire spread through RMH Vehicle Services at Tindale Retail Park.
- More than 50 firefighters and ten appliances tackled the blaze at its height, using aerial ladders as thick smoke reduced visibility across the area.
- Durham Police closed the road between the McDonald’s and Sainsbury’s roundabouts and evacuated nearby businesses during the peak of the incident.
- Drone and ground images show catastrophic structural damage to the garage, including a collapsed roof and inward-fallen exterior walls.
- No injuries have been reported, a cordon remains in place, reduced crews are damping hotspots and revisiting the site, and residents are advised to keep windows closed.