A fire tore through a factory as crews from eight fire engines worked to tackle the blaze.
Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service was called to the scene, on Stafford Road, St Helens, at around 7.45am today.
The fire involved a furnace containing molten glass, close to the Pilkingtons glass works.
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Fire fighters wearing breathing apparatus could be seen entering the factory, using three main jet hoses to tackle cool the furnace.
A row of terraced houses sits close to the factory on Stafford Road.
A resident living in one of the houses expressed their concerns, as she told the ECHO : "I live just by the factory and we're a bit worried about what's happening. We were just complaining about the smell."
For a large portion of the morning, fire services urged anyone living close to the area to keep their windows and doors closed, and to avoid the area if possible.
A driver passing the scene told the ECHO they could 'smell smoke' while driving up through nearby Thatto Heath.
Initially fire services released this statement "Crews arrived to find on site staff fighting a fire and are now taking over from the on site staff. The fire involves a furnace containing molten glass and on the first floor of a factory.
"Firefighters have established water supplies and are now fighting the fire wearing breathing apparatus with two main branch hoses in order to cool the glass furnace."
During the incident, heavy goods vehicles could still be seen entering and leaving the grounds of the factory.
Around eight fire engines were tackling the fire for just over three hours.
At 10.45am fire services released a further update on the incident.
A spokesperson for Merseyside fire and rescue service said: "Firefighters have used four main jet hoses to cool and suppress the molten glass and have successfully contained it.
"A multi agency meeting has taken place and water run-off has also been contained and remains on site."
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