Workshop fire proved to be a real challenge (From Malvern Gazette)

Workshop fire proved to be a real challenge

7:00am Wednesday 13th March 2013 in News By Robert Hale

FIRE crews tackling a blaze at a trading estate faced twin challenges of lack of water and the threat of exploding chemicals.

The fire broke out at 8.35pm on Saturday at the Merebrook Industrial Estate on Hanley Road, Welland.

Extra fire engines had to be sent out to ensure there was enough water, and crews moved drums containing chemical residues away from the blaze to reduce the risk of explosions.

Crews from Worcester, Upton, Malvern and Ledbury were sent to the fire, and station commander Adrian Moore said it was a challenging incident.

He said: “As in most rural areas the provision of water can be limited. To overcome this and to ensure the water pressure was strong enough, four additional fire engines and a water car rier were called to the scene.

“Fire crews also prevented the fire from spreading into the fibreglass mouldings unit where chemicals were stored.

“Outside the premises there were empty drums which had previously contained chemicals.

“As there were still chemical residue in the drums the firefighters moved them to a safe place to avoid any further risk.”

No one was injured but there was significant fire and smoke damage.

Martin Prosser, owner of MG Joinery, which occupies the unit, said: “It was a shock, a devastating scene.

However, we will relocate the mill operation to one of our other workshops on site and it will be business as usual.”

The firm employs 10 people.

Station commander Moore said: “We are still trying to establish exactly how the fire started but we believe it spread from the outside yard into the joinery workshop.”