We were so close to going up in the flames

9:24am Saturday 10th May 2008

Comments (0)   Have your say »

A LUCKY business was just six feet from catastrophe as a devastating fire raged next door.

Staff at MDM Pumps say that if the wind had been blowing in the other direction as fire tore through the Auto Trye and Battery building in Spring Lane, Malvern, on Thursday night, then their business would also have gone up in flames.

Only a six foot gap separates MDM Pumps from the charred shell of the fire-ravaged building which is managed by Auto Tyre and Battery.

Parts of the wall had fallen down and buckled guttering was hanging precariously from the side of the building when your Worcester News returned to the scene yesterday.

Police tape prevented people getting too close.

MDM Pumps manager Alan Tandy, aged 61, who has worked for the firm for 40 years, said: "We have had a very lucky escape.

"All we have is a bit of damaged paint on the roof. The firefighters did a good job to keep it cool.

"They were excellent. It could have been a lot worse for us. It's right next to our storage area where there are gas pipes and central heating. It would have gone up in flames.

"It only survived because the wind was blowing in the other direction and the firefighters kept it cool."

His colleague Mark Turner, 45, rushed to the scene as soon as he heard about the fire but had to go on foot around the back because Spring Lane was closed as firefighters tackled the 40ft (12m) flames and streets rang with the sound of exploding car batteries.

He said: "There was more smoke than fire when I got there. I thought it was going to be our business the way the flames were going."

Staff from the Auto Tyre and Battery Company have so far declined to comment although one man, who refused to be named, said it was "business as usual" for the company.

Alec Mackie for the Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service confirmed yesterday morning that the fire was out.

At its height, the blaze could be seen from Here-fordshire and Mr Mackie said one witness thought the Malvern Hills were on fire.

West Mercia police are still investigating the cause of the blaze.

The fire is the biggest in Malvern since lavatory paper factory ESP went up in flames on the Enigma Business Park in November 2006.