Firefighters call in reinforcements as gales fan blaze

FIREFIGHTERS saved a Wombwell industrial unit from being destroyed by fire today after a blaze in a nearby allotment spread to the property in strong winds.

A large number of gas cylinders stored at the allotment started to explode, and the fire spread up the side and along the roof of the large brick-built premises on Melville Street.

A fire service spokesman said: “Fire crews from Dearne and Cudworth were initially called to the blaze at 1am on Friday, and set about protecting the industrial unit from suffering internal damage.

“After calling for reinforcements from Tankersley, Dearne, Barnsley and Mosborough, they put out the fire in the allotments and prevented the unit from suffering serious damage.

“Crews were also concerned about some chemical containers also stored at the allotment but, upon further investigation, it is believed they contained non-hazardous materials.”

Watch manager George Fenwick added: “Four of the industrial unit’s windows shattered in the fire, and there was some water damage inside from our firefighting actions, but we managed to prevent the building from suffering more serious damage.”

The initial cause of the fire is still being investigated.