Probe launched into Market Drayton gas tanks blaze
An investigation has been launched into a fire involving acetylene gas and oxygen cylinders on an industrial estate in Market Drayton which caused homes and businesses to be evacuated.
Bosses at Minshall Construction on the town's Adderley Road Industrial Estate are yet to discover the cause of the fire, which broke out at the premises at about 1pm on Monday.
Staff have since returned to work and Tom Minshall, the company's marketing manager, said trade was now back to normal after a 'difficult couple of days'. A 200 metre cordon was put up around the company's base on the industrial on the Adderley Road Industrial Estate after the fire broke out.
The emergency involved 20 firefighters at its height and police officers from Shropshire, Telford, Herefordshire and Worcestershire were at the scene.
It took 19 hours to control the fire, which broke out at about 1pm. Firefighters left the scene at 8am yesterday morning. Roger Smith, a firefighter in the town, said it was a very unusual incident but one that was dealt with quickly.
Mr Minshall said: "We are still investigating the cause of the incident, but the subsequent evacuation was necessary due to the volatile nature of such pieces of equipment.
"Working in our environment, it can be prone to dangerous or potentially hazardous incidents such as this.
"Praise should be extended to the team that recognised the danger and through quick and effective action raised the alarm and cleared people away from the area.
"We would like to thank the neighbours and residents around Adderley Road Industrial Estate for their patience, understanding and concern."
Mr Minshall also thanked the local fire brigades and police force which he said did 'an excellent job' and gave a 'rapid response'.
"We would like to offer our apologies for any disruption caused to the local businesses and residents," he said.
