Cause of Bishop Auckland Tindale Retail Park fire revealed

A spokesperson for County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service said the blaze was accidental and caused by a small vehicle within the garage.

The blaze then subsequently spread to all the internal contents and the building itself making it a large-scale and devastating fire.

More than 50 firefighters were deployed after the alarm was raised at R M H Vehicle Services garage in Tindale Retail Park at 10.42am on Thursday, February 19.

The fire in Bishop Auckland (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

Ten fire engines attended at the height of the incident, with crews using an aerial ladder to tackle flames that sent thick black smoke high into the sky.

The roof appears to have collapsed in on itself and significant damage has been caused, though the full extent is still not yet known.

The fire service previously confirmed the fire was not believed to be suspicious and no injuries were reported.

People watching the fire in Bishop Auckland (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

A reduced number of crews remained on scene for the following days to dampen down hotspots as residents were advised to continue to keep their windows and doors closed due to the amount of smoke.

A spokesperson for the fire service previously said: “Events like this show how devastating the consequences of fire can be to local businesses and our thoughts remain with all those affected.

“We want to thank the public for your support and patience and say well done to every firefighter, control room operator and staff member who played their vital role in keeping the public safe."

The aftermath of the fire (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

Shocked residents described the moment the huge fire broke out, with one saying the blaze was "like a movie".

One person said: "I was just sat in McDonald’s watching the smoke but they have now evacuated us for safety. It looks terrible.

"I don’t know when it started, but it was bad at 11am. You can see through the door how bad the fire is.

"I really commend the firefighters here today, they are amazing and braver than any of us could ever be."

Firefighters using an aerial ladder (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

Another said: "I cannot believe how bad it is. It's really worrying for everyone and I hope the nearby businesses aren’t affected by it.

"It looks like a movie I cannot believe it."

One person said: "I have never seen anything like it in my life. It was like a fireball earlier; really, really scary to watch."

Another nearby worker told the Echo how it appeared to turn to night as smoke made the sky black.