Some businesses reopen days after major fire in Luton
Fire crews were called to Selbourne Road early Saturday morning
Some businesses forced to close following a major fire in Luton have now reopened, three days after the incident.
The fire broke out at a commercial building on Selbourne Road early on Saturday morning.
Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service declared a major incident, with ten fire engines and specialist vehicles sent to the scene.
The major incident was later stood down at 12.45pm, although firefighters remained at the scene for several hours afterwards.
A large plume of smoke could be seen across Luton, with residents in several areas told to keep their windows and doors closed.
Luton Borough Council says a small exclusion zone will remain around the site of the fire, covering the front and sides of the building.
Businesses and a mosque within that area are still unable to access their premises because it is not yet considered safe to do so.
'It has been a nightmare'
Lee Naveed, who owns Selbourne Motors, was among those affected by the closure. His business was allowed to reopen yesterday morning.
He says the closure has had a financial impact, with the business losing customers while it was unable to operate.
“We lost a lot of customers,” he said.
Mr Naveed said the garage had been fully booked on Saturday, which he described as one of the busiest days for businesses in the area.
“We had a full day booked, but once you lose the customer, they never come back to you. It's a nightmare”, he said.
He said businesses were also facing the ongoing cost of paying staff and bills despite being unable to operate.
“Everybody's got four or five employees. We have to pay their wages, plus the bills, all that. It's a big loss for everybody,” he said.
Mr Naveed said he was “grateful” his business was now able to return to normal, but some businesses closer to the fire remain unable to operate because they have no electricity.
The council says it understands the situation is “frustrating and upsetting” for those affected, but access will only be permitted once it is safe to do so.
It says “safety remains our paramount priority” as assessments of the site and surrounding buildings continue.