Probe after factory destroyed in blaze

AN INVESTIGATION has been launched into the cause of a factory fire.

Around 70 firefighters spent more than 15 hours tackling the blaze at the disused Perkins frozen food factory yesterday.

Crews were called to Newstead Industrial Estate, Blurton, at around 2am after the fire broke out in the office area of the building.

Firefighters from Longton, Newcastle, Hanley, Kidsgrove, Cheadle, Stone, and Burslem worked throughout the early hours and most of day to control the blaze which spread to other parts of the factory.

Firefighters had to take water from the nearby Trent and Mersey Canal and specialist equipment was drafted in from Rugeley.

Residents were warned to keep their windows closed due to high levels of smoke.

Ruth Watchorn-Rice, Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service's assistant area commander for Stoke-on-Trent, said: "The fire was tackled externally, due to the severity of the blaze.

"We needed so many crews at the incident because there was a risk of the fire spreading to other operational factories that were in close proximity. The overnight crews did a great job though and prevented the fire from affecting the surrounding businesses.

"An investigation has started to establish the cause of the fire. However, it is likely to be prolonged due to the building being structurally unsafe."

The number of crews at the scene was reduced to two at about 5pm.

Steve Pope, Stafford area commander for the fire service, said 75 per cent of the building had been destroyed.

He said: "The building had been empty for a number of years and was up for sale. It is a huge building with lots of different levels.

"Employees from nearby businesses started arriving for work at 4am or 5am to start up kilns and ovens. We let them into the yard as much as we could so it wouldn't interfere with the day-to-day running of the businesses.

"We advised people living nearby to keep their windows closed because all smoke is toxic and has the potential to make you feel quite ill."

Dave Urwin, who works at nearby Solutions Engineering, said there had been problems with people breaking into the empty building in the past.

He said: "The building's been empty for a good few years now. There's been a few problems in there. Kids are always getting in."

Julie Rozari, who also works at Solutions Engineering, said: "I arrived at 8am to be turned away by the police. I later got a call and was told to come back. It was very shocking."