Tyre Fires See Firefighters Called Out At Two Separate Businesses
Norfolk Fire Service responded to a significant fire at a discount tyre company in Saddlebow, near King’s Lynn, involving tyres and industrial equipment. Fire crews from King’s Lynn, Fakenham, Terrington, Massingham, Heacham, and Downham Market were dispatched to the scene on High Road, utilising a thermal imaging camera to identify hot spots. Residents were advised to keep doors and windows closed due to the smoke.
An aerial ladder platform from King’s Lynn and the Environmental Protection Unit from Sprowston were also deployed. A fire service spokesperson confirmed that the business would remain closed indefinitely due to the “extensive fire damage” and asked customers not to visit until further notice. The fire service anticipated staying on-site until Friday afternoon and assured the public that there was no threat to waterways after liaising with the Environment Agency. Residents were advised to keep their doors and windows closed during and after the incident until the fire was fully extinguished. “Our Fire Investigation Team is now on-site working to determine the cause of the fire,” the fire service reported. Firefighters used breathing apparatus and main and hose reel jets to battle the blaze.
In another incident occurring just days later and over 100 miles away, a high-intensity fire broke out at an industrial site in Polesworth, Warwickshire, involving HGVs and tyres. Fire crews from Nuneaton Fire Station responded overnight, with multiple teams tackling the fully developed fire. The fire service described their efforts: “Crews were faced with a high-intensity, fully-developed fire involving HGVs and tyres.” Despite minimal water supplies, firefighters managed to save three vehicles.
Large plumes of acrid smoke filled the sky, prompting the Environmental Agency to be informed, and residents were advised to keep windows closed. To ensure a continuous water supply, crews set up a dam and remained on-site through Saturday, damping down remaining hotspots. Jeff Williams from Polesworth Donkey Sanctuary, located nearby, reported numerous distressing calls from the public concerned about the sanctuary’s safety, clarifying, “We’ve had lots of upsetting calls from people crying, worried about us,” and added, “I’ve never seen a fire like it in my life.”
The storage of tyres poses significant fire safety risks, particularly in industrial environments where other flammable materials may be present. Comprehensive fire risk assessments must cover all areas of a facility, including external storage and so-called wasteland, to mitigate these hazards effectively.
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