Business as usual at Shropshire fuel depot after blaze
A fuel depot is back up and running, despite a devastating fire that destroyed buildings and sent a huge plume of black smoke into the Shropshire skies.
AH&G Deakins Fuels today spoke of the challenge of keeping trading despite the fire, which was battled by crews from six separate towns.
The company today thanked the community for all their support and help in ensuring they do not let down their customers.
Richard Deakins, transport manager at the site in Clunton, near Craven Arms said it had managed to reopen on Tuesday after the Easter weekend.
And he wants customers to know it is business as usual despite the continued clean up at the site.
He said: "We are just starting to get back on track after the fire.
"We were very lucky as it could have been a lot worse, but the fire service managed to contain it to just one building keeping it away from the fuel.
"But the community have really pulled together to help us and to make sure we haven't had to close down.
"We are currently working hard to clean the site, but I just want all our customers to know we are open as normal. I would also like to thank other fuel companies as they have also offered support."
Deakins Fuels is a family-run business that has been trading for around 25 years, and has seven members of staff whose jobs have not been affected by the blaze
It stores kerosene, commercial heating oil, gas oil, red diesel and road diesel at the site, near Clun.
The quiet village was engulfed in smoke when the fuel depot went up in flames on Easter Sunday, which destroyed two lorries and a van as well as a building.
Six fire crews were brought in from across the county and beyond because of fears of an explosion.
They managed to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading, allowing the main bulk of the business to continue operating.
Guy Williams of Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: "There is severe damage to some of the vehicles and to one of the buildings, but it could have been a lot worse considering it was a fuel depot.
"No-one was injured in the fire, which is the important thing, and that includes livestock and animals.
"The crews did a great job at keeping the fire under control."
