This is Leicestershire -- Firefighters battled to contain a blaze which broke out on the factory floor of a paper mill. Emergency services were called to the Sofidel UK works, in Hilltop Road, on Hamilton Industrial Estate, Leicester, just after 5am yesterday. The fire was reported in the main production area of the paper mill, which makes toilet tissue for supermarkets. At its height, more than 60 firefighters from stations across the county, including the fire service's technical rescue team, were involved in the operation. A factory worker, who turned up for the start of the 6am shift to find the factory ablaze, said: "I couldn't believe it when I came to work. It didn't look good."
"There were about 12 workers on the night shift inside the factory when the fire broke out, but they were all able to get out." A Thurmaston dog walker, who did not want to be named, said he saw smoke coming from the factory. "I thought, 'what the hell's going on there'," he said. "The smell was the worst thing. "It's an absolutely huge place and I thought to myself, if that goes up we're in trouble." Incident commander firefighter Paul Purser said the fire broke out in the centre of the building, where most of the machinery is. That blaze was addressed but then, at about 10am, crews were re-deployed to the factory when fire was discovered in the roof ducting "and it was spreading", said Mr Purser. Firefighters on an aerial ladder platform trained jets of water on to the roof, while colleagues wearing breathing apparatus explored the smoke-logged building. Mr Purser said the blaze was under control by about 2pm, but crews were expected to remain on the scene until well into yesterday evening. "We are using thermal imaging equipment to make sure there are no remaining hotspots," he said. "Because of the scale and nature of the business, we have to be absolutely sure." Mr Purser said early indications were that the blaze started in one of the plant's machines. Production was halted for the day. Dozens of workers outside the factory gates looked on as the firefighting operation continued and deliveries were turned away. Mohammed Vhora, senior manager at the paper mill, said: "No more than a dozen staff were in the building when the fire broke out and everyone was out safely with no injuries or problems. "Our emergency systems and procedures worked well, including our sprinkler system. "I'd like to thank the emergency service for their response. "Most of the damage is cosmetic and due to water." Mr Vhora said the clean-up operation would take just a few hours. Firefighters also dealt with a blaze in a separate unit on Hamilton Industrial Estate early yesterday morning. Crews were called to a laboratory in Waterside Road at about 4.30am. The building was heavily smoke-logged but the fire was under control by 5.50am. An investigation is under way into the cause and the extent of the damage is still being assessed. UPDATE 8AM: Fire crews carried out hourly monitoring check through the night and said the incident remained open and they would be would carrying out further inspections this morning. Reported by This is 23 hours ago.
"There were about 12 workers on the night shift inside the factory when the fire broke out, but they were all able to get out." A Thurmaston dog walker, who did not want to be named, said he saw smoke coming from the factory. "I thought, 'what the hell's going on there'," he said. "The smell was the worst thing. "It's an absolutely huge place and I thought to myself, if that goes up we're in trouble." Incident commander firefighter Paul Purser said the fire broke out in the centre of the building, where most of the machinery is. That blaze was addressed but then, at about 10am, crews were re-deployed to the factory when fire was discovered in the roof ducting "and it was spreading", said Mr Purser. Firefighters on an aerial ladder platform trained jets of water on to the roof, while colleagues wearing breathing apparatus explored the smoke-logged building. Mr Purser said the blaze was under control by about 2pm, but crews were expected to remain on the scene until well into yesterday evening. "We are using thermal imaging equipment to make sure there are no remaining hotspots," he said. "Because of the scale and nature of the business, we have to be absolutely sure." Mr Purser said early indications were that the blaze started in one of the plant's machines. Production was halted for the day. Dozens of workers outside the factory gates looked on as the firefighting operation continued and deliveries were turned away. Mohammed Vhora, senior manager at the paper mill, said: "No more than a dozen staff were in the building when the fire broke out and everyone was out safely with no injuries or problems. "Our emergency systems and procedures worked well, including our sprinkler system. "I'd like to thank the emergency service for their response. "Most of the damage is cosmetic and due to water." Mr Vhora said the clean-up operation would take just a few hours. Firefighters also dealt with a blaze in a separate unit on Hamilton Industrial Estate early yesterday morning. Crews were called to a laboratory in Waterside Road at about 4.30am. The building was heavily smoke-logged but the fire was under control by 5.50am. An investigation is under way into the cause and the extent of the damage is still being assessed. UPDATE 8AM: Fire crews carried out hourly monitoring check through the night and said the incident remained open and they would be would carrying out further inspections this morning. Reported by This is 23 hours ago.