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Search forFirefighters still tackling blaze on Derby industrial estate
Tuesday, August 26, 2008, 11:20
A blaze broke out at midnight at Carman Cars, on the estate and firefighters set up a 200m exclusion zone around the building after finding that flames had heated three potentially explosive gas cylinders.
Cottonbrook Road and part of Shaftesbury Street South, which both run through the estate, were shut by police.
The fire was extinguished by 2.30am but 10 firefighters are still on the scene cooling the gas cylinders.
This morning, Station Manager Mark Bailey, in charge of firefighters at the scene, said: "At the moment we don't know what the cause is because its too dangerous to go in to investigate."
The road will remain shut until at least midnight, leaving 200 employees from about 20 companies unable to reach work today.
Among those affected was Ranjit Shergill, the owner of Shergill's Dairies, which lost refrigerated milk worth £10,000 after electricity in the area was switched of.
Mr Shergill, 43, said police were not allowing anyone into the road for any reason, including his five workers.
He said: "The firefighters had to get the electricity board to switch off the power which means we lost the milk. We can't sell it now.
"I will be able to get a bit of money back from the insurance, but that's a big hassle. This is really frustrating."
Also closed was Alan's Test Centre, which provides van and car MOTs.
While the Evening Telegraph was at the scene, four of its customers were turned away by police.
Its general manager, Sageer Ahmed, said he expected losses of about £5,000.
He said: "We are right across the road from Carman Cars and we don't know if there was any damage to our building as well."
Other companies within the cordoned area include, Marsh Engineering, Link IT, Citiprint, Roof Rack Centre, AJ Sanghera Dairy, Newdec Adaptations, Central Flooring, Structural Fabrications, Loss Recovery Services, and Auto-body Style.
Other businesses based around the site also closed on the assumption they would get no trade.
The manager of Coster TE, in Shaftesbury Street South, said his head office told him to send staff home because the company, which provides air conditioning and plumbing, was reliant on passing trade.
Steve Lunney, 27, said: "We would have missed out on 30 customers which on a normal day would mean we lost contracts worth £5-8,000."
SM Bailey said: "There are three cylinders at the site which contain acetlyne. Its used for welding and could cause an explosion.
"We have to cool them for 24 hours. However, if the cylinders don't cool as we hope then it could be longer."
At its height, 30 firefighters were involved in tackling last night's blaze.
It is understood that the two-storey warehouse will need extensive repairs and may even need to be demolished.
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