Firefighters battle blaze after 'large amount of chemicals' explode

Firefighters battling huge blaze after ‘large amount of chemicals’ explode and go up in flames at industrial estate as residents evacuated

• Over 40 firefighters tackled a large fire this morning in Cannock, Staffordshire
• A factory with chemicals was caught up in the blaze, some of which exploded
• Within two hours, the blaze had scaled down thanks to efforts of multiple crews
• Residents who returned home were told to keep their windows and doors shut

Families were forced to flee their homes after several chemical explosions led to large inferno this morning in Staffordshire – tackled by over 40 firefighters.

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service received reports of a large fire in the forecourt of an industrial unit in Cannock at 6.20am today.

The facility was packed with highly-flammable chemicals which had ignited as a result of the blaze.

Crews from six local stations were sent to the scene alongside colleagues from Staffordshire Police and immediately began to evacuate residential homes on Haling Way and surrounding areas.

Additional crews from West Midlands Fire Service also attended the incident.

Over 40 firefighters were called out to an industrial forecourt in Cannock, Staffordshire, to tackle a large blaze which ignited several chemicals

Nearby residents were evacuated from their homes in Cannock, Staffordshire, as firefighters worked to bring the blaze under control

A spokeswoman from the fire service told The Mirror: ‘The incident involves a large amount of chemicals on fire, some of which have exploded.

‘Police are evacuating local people.’

Four main jets and six breathing apparatus were used to bring down the fire, which was deemed to have been accidental.

By 8.20am, the incident was scaled down, leaving crews from Rugeley and Stafford at the scene.

Station manager Jordan Money, who attended the incident, said: ‘Crews have worked diligently to bring this fire under control and mitigate damage in the area.

‘Although nearby residents can now return to their homes.

‘We are still advising them to keep windows and doors shut whilst our crews remain at the scene and ensure the area is safe.’

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