Fire damages burger factory in Suffolk
It has recently been reported that a blaze which broke out at Wessex Foods in Lowestoft on Sunday evening has severely damaged the premises.
On Monday morning firefighters were still on the scene tackling the flames and ensuring the site is secure.
Local residents reported they had heard explosions coming from the mince and burger processing factory, which employs 150 people.
When fire crews arrived that the scene it took two air support units and over 100 firefighters to work on the fire. They continued to work on the fire through the night using local ponds to provide them with a supply of water.
As well as the factory, the situation also threatened a petrol station, community church and other buildings on a retail estate.
Kevin Burden, of Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service, spoke about the trouble fire crews had experienced during this particular incident:
“The building is designed to keep food stuffs cool so there’s a large number of rooms each of which is well insulated and this means the area burns readily.
“They then collapse leaving the fire to burn underneath the rubble of the building structure.”
As the fire was still burning under all the rubble, fire crews surrounded the building and attempted to contain the area.
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Investigation begins into station restaurant fire
It has been reported that a probe is now under way following a fire which broke out in a Burger King Restaurant at Liverpool Street station in London on Thursday.
The busy station had to be closed soon after 2200 BST on Thursday night until the next day as a few thousand commuters had to be evacuated from the main terminal and the Tube station. A number of roads in the area were closed as the fire crews attended to the situation.
It took 40 firefighters and eight pumps from the London Fire Brigade (LFB) around three hours to put out the blaze in the restaurant unit, which is thought to have been started after a kitchen ventilation shaft caught alight.
There were no reported injuries although all train services had to be cancelled.
If you are a restaurant owner yourself or run a kitchen environment it is necessary to ensure that the premises are kitted out with fire safety equipment to protect the facility from fire. The risk of a similar event happening with these types of businesses is a lot higher than many others, so it is important to consider fire safety training.
When working in these busy environments your staff needs to be fully trained in fire safety, and so a Fire Safety in Kitchens and Restaurants course would be an ideal way to make sure that this is the case.
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Warwickshire fire service to close stations
It has been revealed that four fire stations in the country of Warwickshire are facing closure under new proposals to improve services, with a decision due later this month.
The new plans are part of a shake-up of the fire service in the area and BBC Coventry & Warwickshire has reported that the fire stations under consideration for closure are Bidford, Brinklow, Studley and Warwick.
Should the plans be approved, in addition to shutting the stations, a fire engine would be removed from Bedworth and a smaller tender would be put in its place.
Chief Fire Officer Graeme Smith is said to have put forward a number of options for councillors to consider and one includes the closure of all four fire stations. Under this proposal, Kenilworth and Fenny Compton would not be closed and nor would Bedworth.
Another option would see the stations at Brinklow and Warwick being closed, while an engine would be taken from Bedworth, although these options have not been confirmed.
However, a number of protest marches have already been held against the plans, while those opposed to the closures have petitioned the council.
The final decision will be made by Warwickshire County Council on the 20th of July.