Fire at chemical site
TOXIC RISK MINIMAL ALARM SOUNDED
EMERGENCY services rushed to Seal Sands following reports of a blaze.
Fire crews descended on the INEOS chemical site in Billingham yesterday, with photos showing a large plume of smoke coming from the scene.
Cleveland Fire Brigade said the fire came from a tank that was being dismantled.
A worker told The Gazette that the toxic risk minimal alarm was sounded at the scene and that all windows and doors had to be shut, but that the allclear alarm rang at 12.30pm.
The North East Ambulance Service confirmed there were no reported injuries or casualties as a result of the incident.
This was the second fire at the INEOS Seal Sands site in the past month, with July 12 seeing emergency services attend a fire that started in a tank.
The company confirmed a “full investigation” was to be carried out.
Regarding yesterday’s fire, a Cleveland Fire Brigade spokesperson said: “We were called to
INEOS at 11.50am, we sent five appliances and our command unit to the area. A tank was being dismantled which had a fire, our crews arrived and assisted to put it out with two jets and then left it in the capable hands of the site personnel. We are no longer at the scene.”
A spokesman for North East Ambulance Service said: “We were called at midday to attend an incident at Seal Sands. A duty officer is on scene, but no ambulance crews as there are no reported casualties or injuries.”
A Cleveland Police spokesperson said: “Just before midday police were notified about a fire at an industrial site at Seal Sands. Our Fire Brigade colleagues are on scene and keeping police updated.”
At 1pm, a force spokesperson added: “Fire Brigade have extinguished and are remaining on site, no requirement for Cleveland Police to be there, Harbour police also been involved (no casualties).”
The Gazette has contacted INEOS for a statement.