25 replies to this topic

[Bonzo]

A major fire has broken out at a fireworks factory in East Sussex.

Sussex Police said firefighters from the county were called to The Broyle in Ringmer, near Halland, between Lewes and Hailsham at 1350 GMT.

Witnesses have spoken of seeing a huge mushroom cloud of smoke from several miles away and fireworks going off.

http://news.bbc.co.u...ies/6204452.stm

[pyrotechnist]

Does anyone know what company it was?

[5thElement]

Some more info from yahoo

Firefighters are tackling a major blaze at a Sussex fireworks factory. Officials say people were injured when an explosion tore through the site. Eyewitnesses reported hearing a series of explosions and say smoke can be seen 10 miles away.

Police have declared a major incident at an industrial estate in Ringmer, near Lewes, East Sussex.

Ten appliances were sent to the factory at around 2pm and a mushroom cloud of smoke could be seen with debris falling across a large area.

Sky's Mark White, in Sussex, said the small community of Ringmer, halfway between Halland and Lewes, had been cordoned off as emergency services try to contain the fire.

He said: "It was around 1.30pm that this fire broke out. About 20 minutes later when the fire was really at its height there was a huge explosion."

Colin Turner, who lives near the factory, said he saw an air ambulance arrive at the scene.

He told Sky News: "Initially I was not sure what it was. Our house shook and we are three quarters of a mile, away.

"We did not realise what it was. We just rushed outside. We knew the fire was going. It was like a b**b had gone off.

"You could see the black smoke. It shook the house, the windows. Everything shook."

[iggy]

the company was festival fireworks run by the winters
i hope they are ok

[portfire]

just watching it on sky news ' hope there ok .

[Blast Happy Fool]

The Winters are fine, but have lost everything in the blast.

News has just been announced that two firefighters have been killed.

[5thElement]

Some more updates...

Two firefighters have been killed in a major blaze at a fireworks depot, according to local MP Norman Baker.

At least 12 people have also been hurt, some seriously, in the fire at the premises near Halland in East Sussex.

Twelve ambulances, 10 fire engines, and an air ambulance attended Festival Fireworks at The Broyle from 1350 GMT.

Eye-witnesses have spoken of seeing a huge mushroom cloud of smoke from several miles away and fireworks have been exploding.

BBC reporter Rob Smith said the fire was still raging and fireworks were going off hours after the blaze started.

Seven casualties were taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital, in Brighton, including five from the emergency services.

Two of the seven are said to be in a serious but stable condition.

The other patients are being treated for burns and what are described as "limb injuries".

A spokesman for Eastbourne District General Hospital said five people injured in the fire had been taken there for treatment.

He added: "Four have since been discharged, and one other has non-life threatening injuries."

John Winter, whose brother owns the Festival Fireworks depot at Marley Farm, in Shortgate, told BBC News 24 there had been "an almighty bang, and the place shook".

He said his brother and family had managed to get out of the building safely, but their house had burnt down.

Residents in the area have been evacuated to Ringmer Community College.

It is understood the fireworks store is a concrete complex with steel doors.

Jo Hyne, who lives about 500m from the depot, said she heard a loud bang which she had thought at first was thunder.

She said there was "a colossal amount of smoke, and rockets going off", before a much larger explosion that shook her house.

Another eye-witness, Richard Mitchell, watched the drama unfold from outside a pub in Lewes Road, Ringmer.

"It was like a fireworks display with a fire in the middle of it," he said.

Claire Freeman, from Ringmer, had been eating in the Wok Inn next door to the depot when the fire broke out.

She said diners were evacuated to the car park at the time of the largest explosion.

She told the BBC news website: "Pieces of wood were falling, hissing into puddles around us, at which point we left pretty sharpish."

I had to laugh at the guy who said "it was like a fireworks display with a fire in the middle of it" state the obvious!

[Bonzo]

The BBC now has some amateur footage on its website.

http://news.bbc.co.u...elp/3681938.stm

[BigG]

A sad affair – my heart goes out for the families of those who lost their life and those who got injured. I hope no farther casualties will emerge.

[karlfoxman]

Its very saddening, I cant imagine loosing everything including pets in a few hours! Im sure our best wishes are with the families of those who were killed and the Winters for their losses.

[iggy]

the winters were one of our local supliers and i know them very well
i am very saddend by what has happend and doubble saddend by the loss of the firefighters as i am from a firebrigade family
saw some arial fottage of the scene erlier and its just been wiped out looks like all the barns are gone including there home and workshops

[pyrotrev]

They've been suppliers of mine for quite a while too. Spoke to one of the guys who works there this morning - all the staff are OK thankfully, just waiting for the place to be made safe - wish them all the best.

[Night Owl]

My heart goes out to them, but this is just what the anti firework lobby wanted! brace ourselves for yet more very tuff rules and regs now.

Edited by shell shooter man, 04 December 2006 - 05:44 PM.

[BigG]

My heart gos out to them, but this is just what the anti firework lobby wanted! brace ourselves for yet more very tuff rules and regs now.

The anti-fireworks lobby is mostly not concerned about commercial applications of fireworks. The vast majority I run into from the anti-fireworks lobby want a ban to the public and the existence of professional displays only. They except that fireworks for professional displays have to be stored somewhere.

I think that so far, what we see is that the existing safety distances work. The only casualties come from within the safety premier. Outside of it, less then 500 meters away – everybody was fine.

Again, we need to remember that everyone is very emotional at this point and time, and justly so. Rather then speculating on the outcome of this – I think we better let everyone do their job and support the BPA (which – since this is a commercial incident – will need to provide input) when the time requires.

[Stew]

i'm surprised i didnt hear the bang. I live in Lewes which is only a couple of miles away. Also have used them as suppliers and will be a big loss.