Huge blaze destroys Warndon warehouse
A HUGE blaze in Worcester is set to destroy a warehouse.
Thick black smoke is billowing over the Warndon area of the city as about 100 firefighters tackle the blaze at B Smith Packaging, in Stanier Road, off Cotswold Way.
Visibly shaken employee Vicky Smith said
"We don't what happened. The warehouse started to smoke, someone hit the fire alarm and we all had to get out.
"Two seconds later the whole thing went up."
Nearby businesses, including a the Barn Owl pub and Leapfrog Day Nursery, have been evacuated as a precaution.
Fire crews from Worcester, Droitwich, Malvern, Evesham and Pershore are still at the fire, which started just after 10am today.
A spokesman for Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service was at the scene and said nobody was injured.
"We're going to let it collapse in on itself," he said.
"The roof has gone and there are cracks on the front and rear walls which are in immediate danger of collapsing."
He added that crews expect to be at the scene overnight.
One eyewitness, 24-year-old student Steve Marshall, saw the smoke from his home in Chedworth Drive, Warndon.
"I got a call from my mum who told me to look out the window," he said.
"It's quite dramatic."
Others working nearby described how the fire took hold within a matter of minutes.
Graham Cook, who runs Cookies Mobile Catering in Brindley Road, directly opposite the factory, watched the firefighters and police arrive, and people from the neighbouring Shire Business Park being evacuated.
| We saw the smoke and then... whoosh - it went up. | | Eyewitness Brendon Thompstone |
|
Brendon Thompstone, who works for Augean, a waste treatment plant in Stanier Road, said: "We heard a car alarm sound, which obviously turned out to be their fire alarm, and came out to have a look.
"We saw the smoke and then... whoosh - it went up.
"Everyone started running around like headless chickens."
The plant, which deals with hazardous and chemical waste, has now been protected from the ongoing fire, as have nearby homes.
A spokesman for West Mercia police confirmed that numerous commercial properties had been evacuated as a precaution.
It is believed the manager of B Smith Packaging is away on holiday.
The firm was established in the 1960s and supplies paper, boxes, bags, ribbons and labels.
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For full coverage see tomorrow's Worcester News.
2:17pm Wednesday 2nd April 2008
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CommentPosted by: Bilford reader, Worcester on 3:00pm Wed 2 Apr 08
I was working in the nursery when that started it all happened pretty quickly we got all the children out and a local company took us in the children were all really good and stayed calm. We could see the flames but didnt know what was going on till much later.
I was working in the nursery when that started it all happened pretty quickly we got all the children out and a local company took us in the children were all really good and stayed calm. We could see the flames but didnt know what was going on till much later.
Posted by: anon, worcester on 3:13pm Wed 2 Apr 08
well done to all the nursery staff, glad to hear local companies helped as many are ready to turn their back these days, i feel sorry for the owner of the company.. also a big cheer to the fire fighters and police..........i watched from the road side and couldnt believe how big the flames were.
well done to all the nursery staff, glad to hear local companies helped as many are ready to turn their back these days, i feel sorry for the owner of the company.. also a big cheer to the fire fighters and police..........i watched from the road side and couldnt believe how big the flames were.
Posted by: Max Sinclair, WORCESTER on 6:21pm Wed 2 Apr 08
When will Company Directors learn that a proper sprinkler system will remove the risk of fire. We have Britains finest Fire Prevention Company in Malvern Road, Worcester.
When will Company Directors learn that a proper sprinkler system will remove the risk of fire. We have Britains finest Fire Prevention Company in Malvern Road, Worcester.
Posted by: Mich, Droit on 6:28pm Thu 3 Apr 08
I thought this wasn't the first fire that B Smiths has had. Although I heard this a number of years ago when I worked there briefly. Not sure whether it's true or not. They used to smoke in the warehouse.
I thought this wasn't the first fire that B Smiths has had. Although I heard this a number of years ago when I worked there briefly. Not sure whether it's true or not. They used to smoke in the warehouse.
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