The probable cause of a giant fire at a Derbyshire factory has been revealed by the Derbyshire Fire Service. The blaze took at least eight fire engines to put out at an industrial unit in Woodville near Swadlincote.
Firefighters from across Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Staffordshire and Nottinghamshire were first called to the incident on Occupation Lane at 5:30 pm on Tuesday, May 30. Upon arrival, crews discovered one industrial unit well alight and that the fire had spread to a second industrial unit.
Crews used breathing apparatus and hose reel jets to limit damage to the second unit as well as a water carrier and aerial ladder platform to extinguish the fire. A joint police and fire investigation into the cause of the fire has concluded the most likely cause to be an accidental electrical blaze.
Surrounding roads were closed well into the evening to allow firefighting operations to proceed, and local residents were advised to keep windows and doors closed due to the smoke. Firefighters left the scene at 11:15 pm but returned the following morning (Wednesday, May 31) to reinspect the site.
Derbyshire crews from Swadlincote, Melbourne, Kingsway, Ascot Drive, Long Eaton and Ilkeston attended the fire. Cross-border support also came from Leicestershire’s Ashby-de-la-Zouch and Shepshed fire stations, as well as Staffordshire’s Burton team and Nottinghamshire’s London Road crew.
