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Firefighters tackle chemical hazard |
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A major fire broke out at the site of Veolia Environmental Services in Preston, Lancashire, on July 2. Firefighters responded quickly to a 999 call logged at 0413, some three to four minutes into the fire, according to CCTV camera footage showing how the fire started in an outdoor location on site where waste chemicals and oils were stored. Security staff were singled out for praise for their efficient evacuation of the site on discovering the fire, ensuring also that the main entrance to the industrial estate was barred to all but emergency services personnel. Lancashire’s Chief Fire Officer, Peter Holland, stated: “The Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service response has been well documented by the media, reporting how firefighters performed superbly in extremely hazardous conditions. Their courage, skill and tenacity ensured that the blaze was prevented from spreading off-site and was brought under control quickly and with the minimum impact on people and the environment.” He continued: “The water and foam used to extinguish the fire was effectively contained in the site’s underground tanks, installed to comply with the law for storage of hazardous chemicals, so it did not enter drains and cause pollution.” A joint investigation by the Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service, Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and Environment Agency into the fire has emphatically ruled out arson as the cause.
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