Major fire at Matalan store in Portsmouth 'under control' after seven fire crews tackle blaze

Seven fire engine were called to tackle the fire in the store’s warehouse at 8:38am after a call from the member of the public, according to spokeswoman from the Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service.

The fire – which tore through cardboard boxes at the rear of a warehouse building separated from the main store – was brought under control with two jets and a hose reel appliance, as well an aerial platform, at 10:31am.

Southsea Fire Station crew manager Richard Furse said: ‘We still have a couple of trucks waiting for the key holder to turn up.

‘The fire was contained to just a small area of the building.

‘A fire investigation team is down there trying to work out what caused the fire.’

No-one was injured in the blaze.

Police had been called to the scene and roads around the building, near Portsmouth and Southsea railway station were closed.

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