- Author, Amy Walker & Clare Cowan
- Role, BBC News, South East
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Residents whose homes are near a Surrey shopping centre are in temporary accommodation after a fire broke out at the complex.
Surrey Fire and Rescue Service received reports of a blaze at an apartment block attached to The Heart shopping centre, in Walton-on-Thames, at about 18:25 BST on Wednesday.
The area was evacuated and no-one was injured. At least 12 people are in temporary accommodation due to fire damage.
The fire service said the blaze, which was believed to have started in a second-floor flat, was accidental.
David Nolan, the service’s area commander, told BBC Radio Surrey it received initial reports there were flames on the outside of the building.
He said fire crews were at the scene within minutes.
Image source, BBC/Julia Gregory
“It was a pretty well developed fire… between the time of the call and use getting there,” Mr Nolan said.
“But thankfully the fire was very quickly calmed down and we had it under control.”
The shopping centre and several floors of the apartment block were evacuated due to heat and smoke.
Image source, BBC/Julia Gregory
A total of 12 fire engines, including from the London Fire Brigade, attended the scene.
Mr Nolan said the response had been “resource heavy” in order to ensure people in the building could be safely evacuated.
He said the “vast majority” of residents had regained access to their flats, but 12 people were staying with friends or family.
Elmbridge Borough Council said no residents required its support with accommodation overnight but it would work with The Heart and Surrey County Council “to provide accommodation support to impacted residents if needed in the coming days”.
The shopping centre will open as usual on Thursday after being deemed safe by fire engineers.