Exploding gas cylinders at food plants could seriously injure fire fighters if companies do not alert fire crews to their presence when calling them out to tackle blazes, fire safety bosses have warned.
Speaking after it was called out to Grimsby-based fish processor Norvik Foods to put out a fire last Thursday, Humberside Fire Service said fire fighters had been “blown into the air” when propane cylinders stored at the site exploded.
A spokesman said: “We got a call at 5.16am last Thursday after a manager had gone to the site to respond to a burglar alarm and discovered a fire. It wasn't a major fire initially, but then a propane cylinder exploded and part of the roof was blown away.”
He added: “I don't think that the major food production area was hit, but there was a lot of smoke right through the plant.”
The company, which produces frozen and fresh fish and ready meals, said production would resume tomorrow morning (May 16) following an extensive clean-up operation.
A spokesman said: “The damage was restricted to one section of the plant and no production equipment has been affected. We have an idea what started it but it's still under investigation.”