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A person has been treated by paramedics after suffering burns in a fire that could be seen for miles.

Eight fire engines were called to a blaze in a garage in Cedar Road in Strood.

Drone footage showing the fire from above. Submitted by @CameraLeon

A bulk water carrier and height vehicle are also being used.

Crews advised those living or working nearby to keep windows and doors closed as a precaution due to smoke, and to avoid the area where possible while the emergency services deal with the incident.

As of 4.45pm, all units remained at the scene but crews said they were making steady progress and were using hose reel and main jets to dampen down any remaining hotspots.

By 9pm, a fire service spokesman confirmed the blaze had been put out.

Wouldham resident Michael Stevens has told how he heard "a huge explosion" around 2pm while he was walking his dog near the Medway Bridge.

He said: "I thought to myself 'what on earth is that?' It was a deep, loud blast which I thought might be an articulated lorry crashing on the bridge.

"I have been told since that it is the Vauxhall spares place in Strood, which shows how big a thing it was for the sound to travel as far as it did.

"I can now hear lots of sirens going as fire engines come through Cuxton and Halling. It looks like quite a major thing."

Residents in Cedar Road have been in the street, watching the fire unfold.

Sadie Jones said: "I had just got home from work and I saw the black smoke and then the flames. The whole roof was on fire. Then I heard some explosions."

William Whitehead, who also lives in Cedar Road and heard explosions, said: "I saw a fire engine go down there, then ambulances and then another fire engine. Then I saw the smoke."

Vanda Cochrane is the owner of Mocketts Temple farm shop and florist.

She said: "I saw the smoke. I went out with some rubbish and saw all the smoke.

"It seemed to take hold quite quickly. One chap said a car had caught fire and I though it looks like more than just one car to me.

"It really, really took hold. There was loads and loads of black smoke. There was some flames.

"We had a fire out there about three or four months ago, but that was a completely different place to this one.

"At one point it seemed like it was coming towards my shop and I just thought 'crikey I hope it doesn’t'.

"The trouble is with a fire like that it is the debris that could have caught fire. Fortunately the fire brigade got here in time."

Nearby resident Sam Warr could see the drama from her flat balcony.

She said: "It just literally went up all of a sudden. One minute it was just a little flame and then it was like this.

"It has been like it for nearly three hours. The flames are still going on."

Cedar Road was closed in both directions and parts of Cuxton Road were also closed.

At 9pm, a fire service spokesman said: "Crews continued damping down the final hot spots to make sure the fire was fully extinguished.

"Firefighting operations have now been completed, however crews will remain on scene to observe the site to make sure the fire is completely out.

"The garage was destroyed by the fire."

The cause of the fire has not yet been established.

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