An old First World War airfield is currently ablaze, and locals have been urgently advised to remain indoors due to concerns about asbestos being present in the smoke.
Teams were dispatched to the Old Sarum Airfield located in Salisbury, Wiltshire, at 6:38 pm on Thursday following a blaze that erupted at the Grade II-listed Hangar 3.
The structure partly gave way after just two hours, with fire rapidly engulfing the neighboring Hangar.
The Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service stated: "Because of the possibility of unidentified chemicals, kindly remain indoors and ensure your windows are shut to prevent exposure to the smoke."
There have been no reports of fatalities.
The service updated at 10pm: 'Firefighters remain engaged in combating the fire that has impacted two partly abandoned structures.'
'They are employing ground monitors along with an aerial ladder platform to put out the fire.'
'Owing to the structure’s vintage, we believe the smoke cloud might include asbestos, however, inquiries are still underway.
'Residents in the vicinity are kindly requested to ensure their windows and doors remain closed and to stay indoors as a preventive measure because of the smoke in the region.'
Several teams from Amesbury, Salisbury, Ludgershall, Andover, and Ringwood have participated in the mission.
The blaze comes just a week after plans for up to 315 homes to be built on the site were approved following a lengthy planning dispute.
The airfield, which lies within the setting of a scheduled monument, is recognised by the government as an archaeologically significant national site.
The planning permission stipulated that the airfield operators must fix Hangar 3, which was structurally damaged during Storm Isha in January.
In its decision, the Planning Inspectorate said the heritage benefits of the scheme ‘outweighed’ the potential harm.
Hangar 3 is one of seven at the Old Sarum site, which initially served as a training depot station for day bombing raids during the First World War.
By 1919, it had also become the residence of the School of Army Co-Operation.
The Wiltshire Police, aiding at the location, cautioned people against crossing the safety barriers.
A representative stated: "Multiple individuals are hindering emergency responders in their efforts to capture images of the blazing structure."
'Kindly steer clear of the region and adhere to the barricades — they are set up to safeguard you.'
Contact our news team by sending an email to webnews@.co.uk .
For more stories like this, check our news page .
Stay up to date with the stories everybody’s talking about by signing up to 's News Updates newsletter.