Sunderland Villiers Street: fire crews battle blaze at city centre garage as roads closed

Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service crews have been working for hours to get the fire under control. The blaze was initially reported at 1.30am on Friday morning (May 10), with crews still working at the scene at around 7am.

The fire service said that there were no casualties. However, local residents have been warned to keep their doors and windows closes due to fumes and smoke from the fire.

In an update on X (formerly Twitter), Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service said: “We are currently dealing with a large fire on Villliers Street, Sunderland, SR11EZ. Could all local residents ensure all windows are closed due to the smoke.”

Northumbria Police confirmed that a number of roads surrounding the location of the fire had been closed. The Pforce said: “Emergency services are in attendance at a fire at a commercial premises on Villiers Street in Sunderland city centre. Due to a large amount of smoke in the area, residents living nearby are advised to keep their windows closed. Several road closures have been put in place around Villiers Street and motorists are advised to use alternative routes.”