Smoke could be seen as far away as Romsey and the New Forest as the Polystar Plastics warehouse in Melbourne Street caught fire on March 6, 2024.
Preston North End fans were en-route as Southampton FC were set to host the evening match, but they were told to turn around and head home as the game was cancelled for health and safety reasons.
From around 1pm, a large black column of smoke dominated the city skyline.
Fire crews were alerted at 1.05pm, rushing to get their gear on as three fire engines were sent to the scene.
READ MORE:Warehouse blaze near St Mary's one of biggest firefighter's ever seen
The first firefighters came face to face with flames of up to five metres which were being fuelled by plastics and cardboard.
The fire took more than 100 firefighters from across Hampshire to control.The fire took more than 100 firefighters from across Hampshire to control. (Image: Jose Ramos) Crews used fog spikes, which drill into walls and spray water once a hole is made into the centre of a fire, as they tried to prevent the fire from spreading to two nearby warehouses.
Workers on forklifts rushed to move hundreds of wooden pallets standing just metres away from the roaring blaze.
Leon Gill, crew manager of the team on shift at St Mary's Fire Station at the time of the blaze.Leon Gill, crew manager of the team on shift at St Mary's Fire Station at the time of the blaze. (Image: Newsquest, Jose Ramos) Leon Gill, crew manager of the team on shift at St Mary’s Fire Station at the time of the blaze, had been a firefighter for 17 years.
Speaking to the Echo a week later, he said that the fire was one of the biggest he had ever seen.
READ MORE:Hampshire firefighters conclude probe into warehouse fire at St Mary's
At the height of the incident, over 100 firefighters from all over Hampshire were in attendance.
Some 35 different vehicles were on the scene, including two aerial ladders and a high-volume pump that was pumping water out of the River Itchen.
The smoke could be seen from all across Southampton.The smoke could be seen from all across Southampton. (Image: NQ) By 5pm, a calmer fire was still raging, though the warehouse had crumbled in on itself and firefighters were not able to put out flames that were shielded by debris.
Two of five fire engines were sent away in the morning, but in the days that followed firefighters stayed at the scene, watering the crumpled building down as they constantly checked for hotspots.
Investigations from Hampshire fire and police both concluded that the fire was not suspicious, handing over to demolition crews by March 13.
A spokesperson from Hampshire Fire and Rescue said: “The fire is not deemed to be suspicious with the investigation now being led by loss adjusters and their fire investigators.”