Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service was alerted to the blaze at 5:27am on Friday and the conflagration was attended by eight appliances from Cullompton, Tiverton, Wellington, Taunton and Middlemoor fire stations.
A spokesman for 2 Sisters told Food Manufacture the fire started in a separate building adjacent to the main factory, which was unoccupied at the time.
“As a precaution, the main factory was fully evacuated and no one was hurt,” he added. “Fire crews were quickly on-site and contained the fire and, as yet, the cause is unknown. Production restarted as normal at 8am and supply was unaffected.”
‘Highly developed fire’
Upon arrival, fire crews found “a highly developed fire” on the roof of the premises. The fire was tackled with breathing apparatus, hose reel jets, attack and safety jets and thermal imaging cameras.
A firefighter at the scene told local press: “One of our main priorities – for a big factory – is business continuity, so we’ve managed to get the factory turned back on for the lorries to get in and out. The effect on the business should be kept to a minimum.”
The incident was scaled down by 12:15pm, with only one appliance from Topsham station still in attendance at the scene.
Meanwhile, electrical faults and poorly maintained or installed equipment that cause fires are just two of the main hazards related to electricity that can result in fatalities, according a report from the Health and Safety Executive.
