1:34 pm, June 3, 2026
A fire broke out this morning at a vehicle storage unit in Southampton docks where 33 Jaecoo E5 electric vehicles were damaged.
Firefighters were called at 4.20am to reports of explosions and horns going off at the storage facility on West Bay Road.
Pictures from the scene show 33 vehicles, believed to all be Jaecoo E5s, that would have been worth more than £900,000 in total when sold by the car dealers they were destined for.
So far, there is no information to explain what caused the fire.
Reports and photos show that there were huge plumes of smoke coming from the vehicles. While some were completey gutted by the flames others were only partly burned before the fire was extinguished.
Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire & Rescue Service said: ‘Multiple crews were called at around 04:20am on June 3 to a fire at a vehicle storage compound in Southampton.
‘Firefighters used jets, the aerial ladder platform and ground monitors to fight the fire, which involved 33 hybrid vehicles.
‘At the height of the incident there were 10 fire engines, two water carriers, an aerial ladder platform and support vehicles on site.
‘Due to significant smoke in the area residents were advised to keep windows and doors closed
‘There were no reported injuries.’
Associated British Ports, which operates the dockyard, said: ‘There has been a fire in a vehicle storage compound in the Western Docks area of the Port of Southampton. All personnel are safely accounted for.
‘The fire is well under control and has impacted around 25 vehicles.
‘ABP staff are supporting the incident response services in their work.’
Photo credit: Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire & Rescue Service
