Walesby industrial unit blaze update: firecrews still at the scene

Firefighters were still attending the blaze at an industrial unit at Walesby this morning.
Fire on Forest Lane, WalesbyFire on Forest Lane, Walesby
Fire on Forest Lane, Walesby

The fire at the storage unit at Oakham Farm caused a huge plume of smoke visible for miles around the are yesterday.

Two fire engines remain at the scene as Nottingham Fire and Rescue Service scaled down their operation at the 150x80m unit used for the storage of plastics.

Fire crews are carring out controlled burning at the site in order to minimise the environmental impact of fighting the fire with water.

The decision was made following an assessment carried out by Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service in conjunction with the Environment Agency.

Group Manager Damien West, incident ommander at the scene, said: “We have been working closely with the Environment Agency and other partner organisations throughout the day and reached the joint decision to carry out controlled burning and let the smoke dissipate naturally, rather than continuing to fight the fire with water. This is due to the sensitivity of surrounding water courses, wildlife and the proximity to local businesses.

“The smoke is currently blowing away from nearby residential properties, so shouldn’t present any risk to local people, but if anyone is concerned our advice is to keep doors and windows closed, and stay indoors where possible.

“Our priority from the outset has been to prevent the spread of fire to two neighbouring properties, which crews have worked hard to achieve, and to cause as little damage and disruption to the environment and surrounding area as possible. I would like to thank local residents and businesses for their patience and understanding while we have been dealing with the incident.”

Crews were called to the fire in Forest Lane just after 10.30 am yesterday (Wednesday September 21) with reports of a building ‘well alight’. At its height, a total of nine fire engines, plus a number of specialist vehicles, were in attendance, along with a High Volume Pump from Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.