Man suffers smoke inhalation as fire destroys workshop in Thorns Lane, off Sowley Lane, East End

A MAN was treated by paramedics as around 40 firefighters battled a blaze which gutted a workshop at East End, near Lymington.

The alarm was raised around 3.30pm on Saturday as flames engulfed the commercial premises in Thorns Lane, off Sowley Lane, sending large plumes of smoke into the sky.

The A&T understands the workshop’s owner was present when the fire broke out and initially attempted to put it out himself with a hose before it spread.

Having suffered smoke inhalation, he was treated at the scene but did not need to be taken to hospital.

A number of cylinders had to be removed from the building and cooled as fire crews from across the New Forest spent nearly four hours containing the emergency.

A post by Beaulieu fire station’s Twitter account afterwards said: “At its height we had six pumps, two water carriers and the ALP [aerial ladder platform].”

Beaulieu was joined by personnel from Lymington, New Milton, Ringwood, Burley, Hardley, Hythe, St Mary’s and Eastleigh, as well as a crew from Wilton, near Salisbury.

The incident was handed over to the owner around 7.15pm, but a crew returned the following morning to re-inspect the scene.

No details were available as to how the blaze started, but a Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said it was “not thought to be suspicious”.