UCC Coffee factory ablaze in Dartford

Firefighters were called to the Riverside Industrial Estate off Central Road in Dartford this morning to tackle a large fire at the UCC Coffee factory.

According to websites Kent Live and the BBC, at its height 10 fire engines attended and staff and nearby residents were evacuated.

Online videos show the fire spreading through the warehouses.

No one was harmed in the fire but Kent Fire and Rescue told nearby residents to keep their doors and windows closed due to the risk from smoke inhalation.

At 11:00 hours this morning officers from Kent Fire and Rescue were still tackling the fire but the main blaze had been extinguished and they were damping down everything within the building to eliminate further spread.

A statement from UCC Coffee confirmed the safe evacuation of all employees at the Dartford roastery within the Riverside Industrial Estate.

The company is continuing to work closely with the Fire Brigade to manage the incident and have a disaster recovery team focusing on business continuity; working hard to secure production and supply for their customers to minimise disruption, with support from European roasteries if necessary.

Photo via BBC website/CHARLOTTE FARRUGIA