FIRE HITS CITY BUSINESSES
FIREFIGHTERS were last night tackling a dramatic blaze at an industrial and retail estate on Penarth Road in Cardiff.
Plumes of black smoke belched out of buildings on Freemans Parc between Hadfield Road and the River Ely.
There were no immediate reports of any injuries. The cause of the blaze was not known last night. It was not clear how many units had suffered fire damage.
When firefighters opened the doors of FW Homestores smoke flooded out.
South Wales Fire and Rescue Service confirmed it was alerted to the blaze at 3pm yesterday.
A number of fire appliances were at the scene, including an aerial appliance and water bowsers.
Rush-hour commuters were warned to avoid the area.
Jeff Jones, 75, owns Ring-a-Roast and Kitchen At Number 12.
He said: “We saw the smoke originally before the flames came. It started off in a repair garage at about 3pm. We were supposed to be leaving at 3.30. We couldn’t take anything out. Just had to get our personal belongings and leave.
“It hasn’t come into us yet. It started in the middle at the back and there was another garage next to it the other side and theirs has been damaged, too. It looks like they have lost most of their business.
“When we came out we could see a bit of smoke but in 5-10 minutes or so it had gone from smoke to flames 10ft higher than the building.
“It was quite vicious looking. Bits have fallen off from the cladding. This is the old Freemans cigar factory and it is a rectangle and it has central passage for fire access. The back of the unit that is on fire goes into that central passage.”
Units based at Freemans Parc include Shelley Norton Stage School, FW Homestores, Living Life, Bathrooms and Kitchens.
Katie Parsons-Young, the director of Kursten Vorland LTD, which operates from one of the units on Freemans Parc said staff from a unit nearby came rushing into their meeting room in 7A at around 3pm telling them to evacuate as the building was on fire.
She said: “We ran outside and saw smoke billowing from the building and alerted our neighbours. The fire brigade arrived shortly after and I told the comamander of the fire team that there was asbestos in the building.
“Our factory unit has a ceiling made of compressed asbestos or fibreboard and whilst not desirable for everyone it’s fire retardant properties are exceptional.
“After 50 minutes from the start, the fire brigade, police and emergency response evacuated the units out of fear of explosion.
“That is when I had to retreat. I don’t know yet if I’ve lost everything. The fire hadn’t reached my unit at the time of evacuation but I’m fearful of the worst.
“I managed to take a computer and some files but apart from that I have nothing. The team are really concerned they won’t have work on tomorrow. Time will tell.”
Another woman said: “It’s devastating. You build up a business and then it’s gone. It’s really hard.”