FACTORY GUTTED

Building in danger of collapse after massive blaze
In a massive operation this morning 107 fire fighters were called out to a blaze that devastated a Scunthorpe factory.

The fire was reported just after 1am after an alarm had alerted staff at SSL International plc on the Queens way Industrial Estate.

Fifteen fire engines from all over Lincolnshire and Humberside tackled the blaze on Dunlop Way as thick black smoke bellowed across the sky.

Humberside Fire and Rescue Service's divisional officer, Mike Owen, said: "The fire was getting bigger due to the nature of the contents. "As it is a plastics factory, fire flashes and spreads very quickly in a short space of time.

"We attempted to enter the building, but decided the fire should be tackled from the ground so our fire-fighters were withdrawn as the safety of the crews is paramount.

"Night shift staff are thought to have been having their tea break when the alarm sounded and the building was evacuated. Thank fully everyone got out."

Mr Owen continued: "After the evacuation, our main concern was to stop the fire spreading to other units.

"The building will collapse, the roof will slowly cave in as it gets too hot and loses its strength."

He urged nearby residents to shut all their doors and windows because of the fumes plastics give off.

"No-one wants to be in those fumes if they drop," he said. Police Insp Andy Watson, said: "Staff were evacuated from the building and there were no casualties, however, there may be some damage to private cars as they were parked right next to the building when the fire broke out."

The blaze forced staff at nearby Menzies Distribution on Menasha Way to travel to Doncaster to pack and distribute national newspapers to newsagents across the area.

Employee Trevor James (39) said: "No national newspapers could be distributed from Scunthorpe's Menzies Distribution this morning.

"Staff were not allowed on to the estate and had to go to Doncaster to pack and distribute newspapers for the Grimsby, Scunthorpe and Gainsborough areas.

"Newsagents will have got their newspapers but possibly one or two hours later than normal this morning."

Both Dunlop Way and Brigg Road were reopened to the public just before 8.30am but an eyewitness described the scene as ‘traffic chaos'.

Fire-fighters are expected to be damping down at the site for the rest of today with a number of appliances still in use.

They have yet to determine the cause of the blaze but police are not treating it as suspicious at this stage.

The Scunthorpe branch of SSL International plc is believed to employ more than 100 people. It manufactures continence care products. The company was unavailable for comment this morning.

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