100 firefighters tackle huge fire at Midlands distillery
Over 100 firefighters have been tackling a huge fire at the Alcohols Ltd distillery in Langley Green.
The fire broke out at around 10.00am on 27th November. Nearby homes have been evacuated due to thick smoke and the risk of explosions and one man has been taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham suffering from burns.
West Midlands Fire Service confirmed that fire crews from across the West Midlands would remain at the scene overnight. The fire has destroyed most of the 3 storey building.
Sandwell Council confirmed that it was using Moat Farm Junior School as a refuge for the people who had been forced to evacuate their homes.
Eye witness, Kerry Hawkins, said: “I heard the explosions and saw thick black smoke in the air and the next thing we know we had police officers knocking on our door. We’ve been out since about half past nine this morning and don’t know when we’re going to be allowed back.”
Chief Inspector Ian Marsh said: “People are starting to return from work and school and we need anyone trying to either head home, or pass through the affected area, to be aware that they need to make alternative plans.”
A spokesman for West Midlands Ambulance Service said a man in his 20s had been treated at the scene for burns to his back and a hand before being taken to the specialist burns unit at Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
Another witness, Tony Kirkham, said: “We saw a Land Rover parked opposite the factory go up in flames, there was nothing we could do to stop it. You could also see the window frames melting in people’s houses. It was scary.”
The Environment Agency also attended the incident to check on the environmental impact of the fire.
Fire at London scrapyard shuts M1
A fire which broke out at a scrapyard close to the M1 has caused over 36 hours of chaos.
Over 40 firefighters and 8 fire engines attended the blaze which started at a scrapyard in Mill Hill, London at around 4am on Thursday 14th April. The fire resulted in the closure of a large section of the M1 in London and cancellations and delays to Thameslink, Southeastern and East Midlands trains.
A spokesperson for the London fire brigade said: “Firefighters from Wembley, Harrow and surrounding fire stations are at the scene. It is too soon to say what caused the blaze but the cause will be under investigation.”
Firefighters spent hours battling the flames and cooling the gas cylinders to avoid explosions. Some of the cylinders contained acetylene which is highly flammable and unstable. Firefighters will remain at the scene to monitor the situation.