Fire crews are still fighting a blaze at a scrap yard in South Ashford more than six hours after it started.

It is believed a vehicle fire spread to the pile of metal, tyres and around 40 other vehicles, which went up in smoke at the yard in Ellingham Way around 9am today.

VIDEO: Drone footage of the fire. Credit: Dean Morse.

VIDEO: Fire crews are tackling the blaze in South Ashford.

VIDEO: A passenger captures the scrap yard in flames. Credit Matthew Geering.

Eight fire engines, approximately 50 firefighters and a range of specialist equipment have been dealing with the incident.

A spokesman for the fire service said: "The deep seated fire involved scrap metal, cars and tyres which made getting access to the source of the blaze difficult and provided a challenging scenario for fire crews.

"Firefighters have worked extremely hard to stop the blaze spreading and to bring it under control. They are using mechanical machinery to break up the stack and good progress is being made."

It is anticipated that the incident will soon be reduced to four fire engines but crews are likely to remain at the scene for some time.

The crews are using light portable pumps to take water from the East Stour River to provide a water tower from one of the height vehicles to assist with the firefighting effort, as well as five main jets.

The site has been evacuated and staff are gathered outside.

Witnesses have reported seeing thick black smoke billowing from the yard and neighbours have been warned to keep their windows closed.

Fire crews have been at the H.Ripley & Co. site site since 9.21am but it is not yet known how the blaze started.

There are currently around forty firefighters, six fire engines, a height vehicle and other specialist vehicles are at the scene.

The fire involves an area of approximately 80 square metres of scrap metal and cars that are alight.

Representatives from the Environment Agency are on site.

The incident commander said: "The crew attended a scrap yard fire and are working with five jets and six appliances.

"We've requested the drone to get a photo to get a better understanding of the incident.

"Crews remain at the scene and are working hard."

He also said firefighters are using thermal imagery from a height vehicle.

Due to the size of the blaze, crews will have to close some of the industrial unit to get more water on site.

Nearby residents have been warned to keep their doors and windows closed due to the large plume of smoke in the area.

Four fire engines are at the scene, including one water safety unit.

Anne Bowie-Wooler was in her car driving towards town when she saw the fire.

She said: "We were just driving past it and there were six or seven fire engines there and police were shutting off the road.

"Smoke was billowing into the sky, you could see it rising up even as far away as Stanhope."

Eyewitness Andy Clark said: "I saw smoke rising when I was in the town. Could see the smoke from Willesborough too. I thought it was B&Q, but obviously not.

"There are a large number of firemen attending the fire. There is a ton of smoke and when you can see it, loads of wrecked cars."

Fire crews in breathing apparatus are using three main jets and a hydrant to tackle the deep seated fire.

A police spokesman said: "We were called to a fire at a scrap yard in Ellingham Way, Ashford at 9.33am this morning.

"At this stage it is not deemed to be suspicious and officers are there as a matter of public safety. KFRS are leading the emergency service response."

More as we get it.