DOZENS of firefighters tackled a major blaze that ripped through a business on Weymouth’s Granby Ind-ustrial Estate.

Workers were evacuated from surrounding buildings as the fire took hold yesterday afternoon.

Billowing black smoke could be seen from miles away as flames engulfed the Baby and Me building in Avon Close.

The fire started at around 3.45pm and quickly spread to the two units which are occupied by the new business, Baby and Me.

Firefighters managed to stop it from reaching JMK Auto Repairs next door.

Six fire engines and two water carriers as well as an aerial ladder platform and command support vehicle were at the scene.

Dorset Police closed the B3157 Chickerell Link Road as smoke swept across the road and diversions were put in place at Avon Close and Granby Way.

Hundreds of onlookers gathered to watch.

An ambulance crew attended but no one was reported injured.

Staff from nearby BAE Sys-tems were evacuated as flames and smoke were blown close to the building and smoke damage was also caused to JMK Auto Repairs.

David Northern from BAE said: “When smoke came through, our alarms went off and we evacuated the building.”

One Granby worker, who did not wish to be named, said: “We noticed the smoke at 3.45pm.

Minutes later the fire brigade were here – they were very quick.

“It’s frightening how quickly it took off.”

He added: “I feel sorry for the poor people that own it.”

Dorset Police put cordons up as the fire intensified to keep people back.

Patrol Sergeant Fiona Gaffney from Weymouth Police said: “We closed the B3157 because of the smoke and acted as back up for the fire service.”

She added: “There was no significant concern as to the content of the fire or we would have started evacuation.”

Dorset Fire and Rescue Service brought the fire under control by 5.45pm.

A spokesman for the fire service said the cause of the fire was not yet known.

The owners of the building paid tribute to the bravery of the firefighters.

One member of the Baby and Me team, who was on scene, said they were ‘very grateful’ to the firefighters.

Luke Bennett owner of JMK Auto repairs next to Baby and Me paid tribute to the work of the fire brigade.

He said: “They did a great job.”

Dorset Fire and Rescue

GROUP Manager Craig Baker said that the service received a call at about 3.45pm. He said: “Two Weymouth fire engines were mobilised. They are just round the corner and so they got on scene very quickly.

“The crew instantly asked for assistance as there was a well-developed fire when they arrived.

“A further four fire engines were mobilised, making a total of six. They were joined by the aerial ladder platform from Weymouth and two water carriers from Bridport and Poole, as well as a command support vehicle.”

He added: “Crews quickly got to work to extinguish the fire using main firefighting jets and a number of breathing apparatus units.

“A total of 45 firefighters were on the scene.”

Mr Baker added that no one was injured and no one had been in the building at the time.

He said firefighters moved fast to put out the fire as quickly and safely as possible and that no surrounding properties became involved in the fire.

He said: “We moved five vehicles to stop them being involved in fire. We also had people in BAE Systems monitoring the smoke.

“Dorset Police assisted by closing the roads because of the smoke and to assist with the level of traffic at that time of day.”

Mr Baker said the damage to Baby and Me was severe.

He said: “The first and second units were severely affected, the contents were quickly enveloped in fire.

“Importantly, the fire was prevented from getting to the third unit.”

He said that firefighters spent a considerable amount of time damping down the fire and making sure it was completely extinguished.

Shocking sight

EYEWITNESSES spoke of their shock at seeing flames ‘tearing out of the building.’ A spokesman from County Tyres, who did not wish to be named, said: “I saw a fire engine go by about 4pm.

“At first I thought it was one of our customers JMK Autos but I gave the owner a call and he said it was Baby and Me next door.

“It’s totally, totally wrecked.

“There won’t be anyone going back to that place, it’s going to want pulling down.

“There were flames tearing out of the building, the guy who owns JMK Autos was nearly in tears, there’s no way he’ll be going back – there’s no fire damage just smoke damage.

“The only good thing is no one’s been hurt in the process but essentially two businesses have probably just lost their livelihoods.”

He added: “We’ve offered JMK Autos ramp space here so they can carry on trading.”

Van driver Greg Walker, 39, said: “You could see the smoke from the coast road and then when we got to the Granby we saw the flames.

“There were police diversions in place, it looked pretty dramatic stuff.

“All you could see was black smoke.”

Passer-by Stephen Tate, 45, added: “I can honestly say I’ve never seen anything like this before in this town.”

Teenager Holly Chambers, aged 17, of Weymouth said: “We were stuck in traffic coming from Chafeys roundabout when we saw the smoke.

“We came to have a look and saw all the emergency cars drive past us.

“It’s weird because nothing really happens like this in Weymouth, hopefully no one was hurt.”