Huge spill of molten aluminium at Shropshire foundry
Monday 25th October 2010, 11:45AM BST.
MORE THAN 30 firefighters tackled a blaze at a Shropshire factory after 50 tonnes of molten metal leaked from a furnace.
Twenty staff were evacuated from Bridgnorth Aluminium in Stourbridge Road, Bridgnorth, during the incident last night.
Fire chiefs, who led the huge operation at the smelting foundry said molten aluminium flooded the factory floor after a container split.
The metal then set fire to some of the equipment in the factory. No one was hurt.
Crews from across the county arrived on site shortly before 11pm and worked until about 6.30am today.
Fire investigators were due to return to the factory later today to make sure there were no further problems.
Martin Timmis, principal officer for Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: “There was a breach in a container containing aluminium which spilled and set fire to some of the equipment in the middle of the factory.”
He said firefighters had remained on scene to prevent the fires spreading to surrounding buildings.
Mr Timmis added: “We are going back to the scene later today to make sure there are no more problems. The fire is now out.”
The chief officer said aluminium could not be tackled with water as there was a risk of explosion, so crews had to wait until it had cooled.
They could then tackle the fire the metal had started, he said.
Smoke caused damage throughout the factory but did not appear to have caused major structural damage.
A side wall was damaged by the blaze and the entrance and exit to the building remained cordoned off.
Nobody from the company was available for comment today.
By Jason Lavan and Kirsty Smallman
Most Commented
- Clampdown on Shrewsbury chuggers
- Bishop's gay marriage views do nothing to support bible teachings
- Letter: Alcohol price plans annoy me
- Planners ordered to stay on Newport visit bus
- Letter: Angered by close encounter of the furred kind
- Letter: No sense in overseas job adverts
- Shrewsbury’s broadband speed one of slowest in UK
Shropshire Star on Twitter
Keep updated with the latest breaking news and content on our Twitter feed.
Lifestyle
Interactive Dining Out map
Hundreds of reviews by the Shropshire Star and Express & Star's teams to help you decide where to eat.
Entertainment
All the film reviews
Before you plan a trip to the pictures, get our critics' verdicts on all the latest movie releases.
OUR NEW APP
Get the new Shropshire Star app
Download the Shropshire Star’s new app to your iPad or iPhone to get one week of access to our digital newspapers absolutely FREE.
shropshirestar.com
Popular sections
Useful links
Good job that the firefighters weren’t folied by this :-)
Report abuse
even foiled……..
Report abuse
It’s the way you tell them
Report abuse