Huge fire at Norfolk Heinz Factory
Over 90 firefighters tackled a huge inferno at a Norfolk factory last week.
The fire started at around 6pm on 6th May at the Heinz Frozen and Chilled Foods factory in Westwick and is thought to have started in an industrial fryer.
60 members of staff were evacuated and there were no casualties according to the Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service.
A large area around the factory was cordoned off. Thick black smoke billowed from the area but local residents were not asked to evacuate.
Mr Britzman from the fire service said: “Locals may be concerned about the smoke but there are no hazardous materials stored on the site. We would advise them however to keep their windows closed.”
Fire crews were unable to enter the area containing the fryer due to the risk of the building collapsing and had to spray the building with foam from the outside using the aerial ladders.
An investigation to confirm the cause of the fire will be carried out.
Fire at Welsh nuclear power plant
200 members of staff were evacuated after a fire at a nuclear power station in Wales broke out on 5th May.
Fire crews were unable to attend to the fire immediately as it was thought that live electrical cables were involved.
The Trawsfynydd plant is in North-West Wales and is due to be decommissioned within the next few years. The decommissioning process began in 1993.
According Magnox BNFL, the fire is believed to have started in the water cooling units used for cooling the reactors and is thought to have been an electrical fault.
A spokesperson at the plant confirmed that no one was injured in the fire and there is no risk of any radiation leaks.
Luxury Sunseeker yacht goes up in flames
A huge fire broke out on a luxury 34 metre Sunseeker Yacht in Poole Quay last week.
Firefighters tackled the blaze for many hours but the £9m vessel was destroyed.
Chief Operating Officer of Sunseeker International, Stewart McIntrye said: “The insurers have already been notified, we did that during the night. A surveyor has been appointed. We will go through our standard procedures.”
Mike Cox from the fire service said that weather conditions at the time of the fire were helping them in their efforts as the wind was blowing the fumes and smoke away from the area.
A witness to the blaze said: “One of the party saw a flicker of flame out of the corner of his eye and we went outside to see what was happening. It all seemed to take hold very quickly and was very dramatic. It was extremely sad to see it all being destroyed. It was fairly quiet on the quay at that point but it soon drew quite a big crowd.”
The boat which can accommodate 10 guests and 5 crew members was due to be delivered to it’s Mexican buyer this week.
An investigation into the cause of the fire will be carried out but initial findings show that foul play is not suspected.
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Independent fire safety expert in court for fire risk failings
A fire safety expert appeared in court yesterday in connection with a hotel fire in Cornwall in 2007 in which 3 people died. Firefighters claim that it was the worst British hotel fire that has been seen in the last 40 years.
Monica Hughes aged 86 and 80-year-old Joan Harper perished in the blaze, and Mrs Hughes son, 46 died when he tried to escape from the fire by jumping from a third floor window. 90 other residents managed to escape.
Martin Tricker who was an Independent Fire Safety expert has denied a charge of failing to carry out an adequate fire risk assessment at The Penhallow Hotel.
Mr Tricker attended Truro Crown Court with the owners of the hotel. The owners had previously admitted to health and safety breaches.