Firm's own firefighters win praise

The fire was confined to the 2m-square metallic structure, which was in the process of being decommissioned on the Thomas Swan & Co works at Crookhall, Consett, last Friday.

Two fire crews from nearby Consett station, backed by the Durham brigade's environmental protection and special incident units, received an automatic call-out to the plant, after the alarm was raised shortly before 9.20am.

But on arrival the blaze was under being kept under control by the plant's own dedicated fire crew, which includes two part-time firefighters.

The regular firefighters helped to contain and extinguish lingering flames, restricting the damage to the single tower.

Keith Wanley, the Durham fire service's Consett station manager, said: "I'll be writing to the company to praise their own firefighting team who did a fantastic job.

"I've spoken to our officer in charge and he said they performed very well. We just had to provide a support operation when our crews arrived, with extra breathing apparatus teams and jets put into use.

"Staff were evacuated from the area and the quick containment prevented it from possibly spreading elsewhere on site.

"We have obviously met with the people at the factory following previous incidents and there is an action plan in place, with the arrangements involving their own firefighting team, who have their own breathing apparatus and chemical protection suits.

"I must stress, however, that there were no chemicals involved in this incident," Mr Wanley said.

Thomas Swan director and general manager Dai Hayward said: "It was a very minor incident, swiftly and easily contained.

"We have an investigation under way to look into the exact cause, but it is too early to speculate."

Mr Hayward added that the fire was 'well away' from any chemicals, involving equipment which was in the process of being decommissioned.

Thomas Swan and Co make chemicals for use by other companies manufacturing a variety of products.