Major Cargo Ship Fire Extinguished Hull Albert Dock Smoke Disrupts City

A major fire broke out on the cargo ship Altay, docked at Albert Dock in Hull, originating in a cargo hold containing 3,500 tonnes of scrap metal. Humberside Fire and Rescue crews, including marine response teams, worked through the night to bring the blaze under control by early Saturday morning, with all those on board accounted for. The incident caused a large plume of smoke to spread across Hull city centre, prompting closures of nearby roads and shops and advisories for residents and businesses to keep windows and doors closed. In a separate incident, firefighters responded to a house fire on Poynings Crescent in Basingstoke, which was caused accidentally by soldering works in the roof space, leading to partial roof collapse; crews used aerial ladder platforms and ventilation fans to extinguish the fire and clear smoke. Both fire services praised the efforts of their crews and coordinated with partner agencies to manage the incidents, while ensuring public safety with ongoing monitoring and community guidance.