Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) was alerted to the fire at 15:50 on 18 February. A total of 15 crews from Bury St Edmunds, Thetford, Newmarket, Wickhambrook, Ixworth, Haverhill, Woodbridge and Cambridge attended. An area of about 30m2 covering multiple floors was involved.
A spokesman for the fire service said: “Fire crews attending a fire involving conveyor belt systems in processing plant at British Sugar BSE. Thanks to swift intervention by both SFRS and British Sugar firefighters the incident was dealt with quickly.”
Andy Simms, site general manager at Bury St Edmunds, confirmed that the fire had started in the drying area of the factory.
Localised fire
“The fire was quickly localised and with the support of the Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service it was extinguished and the area declared safe,” said Simms.
“We are thankful that no one was injured. The factory continues to operate normally and we will now undertake a full investigation into the cause of the fire.”
British Sugar said there had been no impact on production.
Last year saw a number of food and drink manufacturing sites hit by fires.
Kent Foods
In September, Kent Foods said it had introduced contingency plans for its supply chain in the wake of a fire that had destroyed its warehouse and office.
More than 100 firefighters and 20 appliances battled the blaze at the Basildon depot of Kent Foods on the evening of Saturday 29 August.
Meanwhile, in October, Northern Ireland-based Ready Egg Products was forced to evacuate staff from its Lisnaskea site this week, after a fire broke out in a derelict building on site.
At the height of the incident, 10 fire appliances – including a high-volume pumping appliance, two aerial appliance and a water tanker – were in attendance.