Probe into cause of factory fire

Firefighters were today launching an investigation into a blaze which has left a Telford factory a burned-out shell. Firefighters were today launching an investigation into a blaze which has left a Telford factory a burned-out shell. Staff were forced to flee Mail Solutions, in Halesfield 14, as the fire spread quickly through the building after the alarm was raised at about 4.15pm yesterday. The blaze sent 60ft flames shooting into the sky. Crews were still at Mail Solutions today as pockets of fire still remained. The crews were expected to be at the scene for a couple of days. They have been unable to get into the building amid fears it could collapse. Martin Timmis, Shropshire Fire & Rescue Service head of operational response, said the fire was not being treated as suspicious, but the cause was being investigated. Video footage from the scene See more photos gallery below and read the full story in today's Shropshire Star Firefighters were today launching an investigation into a blaze which has left a Telford factory a burned-out shell. Staff were forced to flee Mail Solutions, in Halesfield 14, as the fire spread quickly through the building after the alarm was raised at about 4.15pm yesterday. The blaze sent 60ft flames shooting into the sky. See more photos gallery below Video footage from the scene Crews were still at Mail Solutions today as pockets of fire still remained. The crews were expected to be at the scene for a couple of days. They have been unable to get into the building amid fears it could collapse. Martin Timmis, Shropshire Fire & Rescue Service head of operational response, said the fire was not being treated as suspicious, but the cause was being investigated. He said one crew from Tweedale was initially sent to the scene about 4.15pm after an automatic fire alarm, but soon called for more appliances, with firefighters from Telford Central, Wellington, Shrewsbury, Much Wenlock, Hodnet and Bridgnorth attending. Mr Timmis said: "On arrival they immediately recognised they had a serious fire facing them involving almost the whole of the building, which was about 60m by 100m. "It is a single-storey building which appears to be used predominantly for storage of bales of paper and envelopes." Mr Timmis said the flames were about 50ft to 60ft high. He said: "The fire has totally destroyed the building and it was probably gutted within the first hour after the fire started. "When we got here the occupier had already evacuated all the people in the building safely, leaving us to deal with protecting the surrounding factory buildings to allow them to carry on their business as well as they could." One Mail Solutions worker, who declined to be named, said: "It was just dreadful watching the flames shooting out, then the roof started to go. It just went up so quickly and spread along. It was just absolutely amazing how quickly it went and how windy it was did not help." The worker said some staff had left personal items, such as house and car keys inside the building when they fled and were unable to move their cars. Firefighters had to move three cars after smashing their way in and releasing the handbrakes. Staff from Mail Solutions' Halesfield premises were today due to meet at its Stafford Park site to find out what will happen next. Jodie Biggs, who works at DOCdata in Halesfield 14, said at the height of the fire: "It's really bad. There's flames and staff at Chequer Foods have been evacuated. "We heard there was smoke and now there's flames quite high and quite a few fire engines." Firefighters on aerial ladders pumped gallons of water onto the building to try to contain the fire.The building, made of brick and corrugated metal roofing, was deemed too dangerous to send in firefighters after part of the roof and a wall collapsed. Drew Perkins, crew manager, said today: "The building was structurally unsafe due to the fire and the structural collapse." Smoke was still billowing from the building into the night and water was pumped from hydrants as far as half a mile away. No-one from Mail Solutions was available to comment and it is unknown how many staff were at the premises. Chequer Foods next door was also evacuated. Philip Hall, who works at Triad Windows opposite Mail Solutions, said workers had been forced to leave their building because of the smoke. Halesfield 14 was closed as the emergency services worked at the scene. By Lisa Rowley Video footage from the scene