SCRAPYARD FIRE WAS ‘STARTED DELIBERATELY’
CREWS FROM 3 COUNTIES WORK THROUGH NIGHT TO HALT BLAZE
A LARGE fire at a scrapyard in Church Gresley is believed to have been started deliberately, police have said.
Fire crews from six stations in Derbyshire, Staffordshire and North West Leicestershire were called to the premises in Pool Street early yesterday after the fire broke out inside a building at the premises.
It started at 4am and crews were still there 12 hours later dampening down.
Earlier, they had managed to keep the fire contained to the building.
Initially it had been thought there was asbestos in the building, but this was not an issue, said a fire service spokesman.
Fire crews from Swadlincote, Burton, Ashby, Melbourne, Castle Donington and Coalville were called to deal with the fire in a building at the Church Gresley scrapyard operation.
It was thought the fire was at the former TG Green site, but a spokesman for the heritage museum for the company said the Grade II-listed build- ing formerly owned by the pottery company was not affected. The name of the premises has not been released by police.
Derbyshire fire station manager Michael Haslam, 39, led yesterday’s operation. He said: “We got the call at around 4am and the fire was thought to be outside but when we arrived it turned out to be contained inside a building.
“Our crews have been working through the night and managed to keep the fire confined to just the one building, which was tough as it was very windy this morning.
“The crews did a brilliant job and it could have been a lot worse if the fire spread.
“We have now been working to extinguish the fire gradually and retreating the firefighters where we can as it’s much safer for them and helps to preserve the scene for investigation work.”
He praised other fire services that attended the scene.
He said: “We have had crews from three different counties fighting the fire.
“They have all worked exceptionally hard and have done a fantastic job. It’s great that crews across the area have all been working together to make the scene safe.”
Firefighters at the scene wore breath-
The crews did a brilliant job and it could have been a lot worse if the fire spread. Fire station manager Michael Haslam
ing apparatus while they were tackling the fire as there was thought to be asbestos in the building.
Station manager Haslam said any asbestos in the structure was minimal and there was no risk to the public.
He added equipment used by the firefighters was put in separate bags afterwards as a precaution.
Officers from Derbyshire Police are now investigating the incident to determine how it happened.
A spokesman for the force said: “The fire in Church Gresley is believed to be arson and police are investigating what happened.
“It was reported at a scrapyard in Pool Street in the early hours of the morning.
“Our inquiries are ongoing and anyone with information is urged to get in touch with us by calling 101 and quoting incident 106 of November 9.”