Crews tackle chemical fire
Nearly 200 people were evacuated from their homes today after a huge blaze at a Leominster packaging factory sent huge plumes of thick black smoke rising above the town. Nearly 200 people were evacuated from their homes today after a huge blaze at a Leominster packaging factory sent huge plumes of thick black smoke rising above the town. At least 85 firefighters from Shropshire, Worcester and Herefordshire were fighting the fire, which caused a large part of the roof of the Skymark building to collapse. For pictures click here And the fire caused about 100 children to miss GCSE and A-level exams. The exams were missed after five schools closed in the town after the blaze broke out at 3.30am at the factory, which stores paints and plastics, sparking concerns over the release of chemicals into the atmosphere. A 400-metre cordon has been set up around the site and fire crews have advised nearby residents to stay indoors with windows shut until conditions improved. Read the full story in today's Shropshire Star
Nearly 200 people were evacuated from their homes today after a huge blaze at a Leominster packaging factory sent huge plumes of thick black smoke rising above the town.
At least 85 firefighters from Shropshire, Worcester and Herefordshire were fighting the fire, which caused a large part of the roof of the Skymark building to collapse.
For pictures click here
And the fire caused about 100 children to miss GCSE and A-level exams.
The exams were missed after five schools closed in the town after the blaze broke out at 3.30am at the factory, which stores paints and plastics, sparking concerns over the release of chemicals into the atmosphere.
A 400-metre cordon has been set up around the site and fire crews have advised nearby residents to stay indoors with windows shut until conditions improved.
Chemical experts met with Environment Agency officers today and early reports showed that a series of minor explosions had gone off in the building.
A spokesman for Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service could not say whether a number of minor explosions had been caused by butane canisters at the site.
The spokesman said: "There were a number of butane gas cylinders in the premises and if they go off it is like an uncontrolled Exocet missile. We are tackling the fire externally and we certainly haven't sent any fire crews inside yet because of the clear dangers."
No-one was thought to have been hurt in the blaze. Fire crews identified one chemical involved as isocyanate, commonly used in vehicle paint and which can cause asthma.
It is not yet known what started the fire.
Bosses at Skymark held a meeting this morning at the company's Ilkeston site in Derbyshire to put together a disaster plan.
Officials from the Met Office were tracking the wind direction as the chemical cloud drifted over the town. A Hazardous Area Response Team was deployed with oxygen cylinders, a West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said.
He added: "The concern relates to the smoke coming from the fire. A number of people have been taken to the leisure centre in Bridge Street. Ambulance crews helped to evacuate an elderly wheelchair-bound couple and an elderly woman from their homes."
