Fawcett Road fire: Residents see 'billowing smoke' and flames 'spurting like a geyser' during Southsea blaze at suspected cannabis factory

A fire engulfed the home on Fawcett Road, above Crystals Hair Salon. Crews from across the Portsmouth area attended the scene to extinguish the flames and check on neighbouring residents.

Kaliph Rehman lives three doors down from where the fire started and thought nothing of it at first, but then heard wailing sirens, a crowd forming and saw thick smoke near his front door.

SEE ALSO: Suspected cannabis factory discovered at site of blaze in Southsea flat

He told The News: ‘I saw a lot of lights down the street. I opened the door and there was smoke everywhere down the road.

‘A small crowd had gathered watching smoke billowing out the roof. Everyone was shocked and scared. I saw embers in front of my house, and the smoke was heavy and sooty.

‘I was scared for my own health. I hid my cat as I thought the chemicals would hurt her lungs.’

Mr Rehman joined the crowd as 16 firefighters from Southsea, Havant, Cosham and Portchester were scrambled to put out the inferno and check on nearby residents. It started at about 9.30pm on Thursday.

‘I saw a lot of water being used but the fire was still growing,’ he added. ‘Everything was on fire inside the house. Flames were spurting like a geyser.’

Max Lewis, owner of nearby Ace Furnishings said he heard about the fire via frantic phone calls and texts from his friends.

He saw the inferno when he parked his car and ran towards it from Percy Road. ‘I came flying down here and the road was cordoned off,’ Mr Lewis said. ‘The roof was ablaze, and flames were spreading.

‘Everyone thought the neighbouring buildings would set on fire. It was 10 to 15 foot high, with flames spreading everywhere. ‘I was really concerned it would get to other places.’

Fawcett Road resident Anamur Rehman, 54, received a video of the blaze and a panicky phone call from his wife.

The owner of Bombey Bicycle Club, on Elm Grove, said: ‘There was billowing smoke. It was very scary. I was told that people in other buildings might have had to have been evacuated due to the chemicals and smoke.

‘Firefighters were still there at 1am. There were hoses running down the street. When I woke up people were still there. I panicked a bit at the time.’

Relief crews from Hightown and Fareham attended during the night as crews dampened down. The crew from Southsea left at 4am on Friday.

SEE ALSO: Investigation launched after two bodies found in Portsmouth flat at different times on the same day

The stop message was given at 6.07am, before firefighters returned to check for hotspots. A Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said Hampshire police officers and the electricity company were at the scene to isolate the first-floor power supply as the roof had collapsed.

A Hampshire police spokeswoman confirmed there was a suspected cannabis factory at the property. She said: ‘Officers attended and a suspected cannabis factory has been located at the property.

‘No-one was injured in the fire. An investigation into the incident is underway. No arrests have been made at the current time.’