Video supplied by Shropshire Star reader Jessica Morgan

A fire at Shrewsbury’s explosion site was today described as a “freak accident” by architects working at the scene, as they revealed all debris will be cleared today to bolster safety and ensure it is not repeated.

Carl Huntley, managing director of Base Architecture which is in charge of the demolition and restoration of the site in Smithfield Road, today said work would go on uninterrupted with clearing of the site due to start today.

The fire started yesterday lunchtime after a spark caused by steel cutting work taking place on the first floor caught on old insulation.

Mr Huntley said: “It was a real freak accident with the way the wind was blowing around. One of the sparks managed to land on the insulation and was hot enough to set it alight.

Excellent

“It was only a couple of square metres of insulation which caused all that smoke but it goes up really quickly. We knew we needed to sort it out fast and the fire service were excellent with their response.”

Mr Huntley said a development would be built on the site for commercial and retail use, with a restaurant and offices incorporated in the design. However, he said the Environment Agency would not support the reinstatement of residential use because of flood risks and negotiations were ongoing. It is expected to be completed by early 2012.

Emergency services were called to the blaze at 12.10pm yesterday and it caused major traffic snarl-ups in the town with roads, including the Welsh Bridge closed for almost an hour.

Witnesses to the fire spoke of their concern at what was happening on the site, particularly as it was where the explosion happened in January, which left 12 people injured.

About 20 customers and 12 members of staff were evacuated from the Shrewsbury Hotel next to the site during yesterday’s fire.

Shrewsbury Sixth Form College student Catherine Livesey, from Gobowen, said: “The flames were about 20ft high. There was so much smoke it looked like a volcanic eruption.”

By Sam Pinnington