Fire-fighters exposed to asbestos

Date published: 28 August 2010

Eight fire-fighters were decontaminated for asbestos exposure after fighting a fire at Melba Swintex, Manchester Road, Redvales, Bury, a traffic cone manufacturer.

At approximately 2.30pm on (Friday, 20 August), the fire service received reports of a fire in a storage room which contained cardboard boxes of cone coverings, two crews from Whitefield and one from Bury attended the blaze.

The firm’s sprinkler system was activated which immediately controlled the fire but the room was full of thick black smoke, fire-fighters said.

Eight officers wearing breathing apparatus entered the room to ensure the fire was fully extinguished. It was later discovered that the area contained asbestos and the fire-fighters underwent a decontamination process.

The fire was out in around 20 minutes but fire-fighters were on the scene until 7.30pm.
A spokesman from Whitefield fire station, said: “All the contaminated products were removed by a specialist cleaning company. The fire caused damage to all the boxes and a section of the roof.”

The cause of the fire was said to be overheating and there were no suspicious circumstances.