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| Boston industrial estate explosion kills five men | Boston industrial estate explosion kills five men |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Five men have been killed and a sixth has been seriously injured in an explosion at an industrial estate in Lincolnshire. | Five men have been killed and a sixth has been seriously injured in an explosion at an industrial estate in Lincolnshire. |
| Police, fire and ambulance crews were called to the Broadfield Lane Industrial Estate in Boston at about 1900 BST on Wednesday. | Police, fire and ambulance crews were called to the Broadfield Lane Industrial Estate in Boston at about 1900 BST on Wednesday. |
| A Lincolnshire Police spokeswoman said she believed the men died instantly in the force of the explosion. | A Lincolnshire Police spokeswoman said she believed the men died instantly in the force of the explosion. |
| Police are investigating claims the men may have been brewing illegal alcohol. | Police are investigating claims the men may have been brewing illegal alcohol. |
| A spokesman for the force appealed for anyone with information about the men and what activity was taking place at the unit to contact officers. | A spokesman for the force appealed for anyone with information about the men and what activity was taking place at the unit to contact officers. |
| The sixth man was taken to Boston's Pilgrim Hospital but later transferred to the Queen's Medical Centre (QMC) in Nottingham. | The sixth man was taken to Boston's Pilgrim Hospital but later transferred to the Queen's Medical Centre (QMC) in Nottingham. |
| Arm 'ablaze' | Arm 'ablaze' |
| Nerys McGarry, from Lincolnshire Police, said it was not yet clear what had caused the blast. | Nerys McGarry, from Lincolnshire Police, said it was not yet clear what had caused the blast. |
| "We do not have any further information about the men, their ages and where they are from but we will be making inquiries throughout the night and can give a further update in the morning," she said. | "We do not have any further information about the men, their ages and where they are from but we will be making inquiries throughout the night and can give a further update in the morning," she said. |
| BBC Lincolnshire reporter Scott Dalton, who was at the scene, said residents in the area had seen thick, black smoke coming from the industrial estate. | |
| "Locals have been telling me they didn't even hear an explosion or even a bang," he said. | "Locals have been telling me they didn't even hear an explosion or even a bang," he said. |
| When firefighters arrived at the small unit on an industrial estate close to the centre of Boston they found a devastating scene. | When firefighters arrived at the small unit on an industrial estate close to the centre of Boston they found a devastating scene. |
| The fire was so great that roller shutter doors had buckled and cars close by set alight. | The fire was so great that roller shutter doors had buckled and cars close by set alight. |
| The bodies of five men were found inside. A sixth man ran from the building with serious burns, he's now being treated at a specialist burns unit at the QMC in Nottingham. | The bodies of five men were found inside. A sixth man ran from the building with serious burns, he's now being treated at a specialist burns unit at the QMC in Nottingham. |
| Lincolnshire police say one line of inquiry is the suggestion that the premises was being used to distil illegal alcohol. | Lincolnshire police say one line of inquiry is the suggestion that the premises was being used to distil illegal alcohol. |
| Paul Featherstone, who lives nearby, said: "I didn't hear an explosion, I just saw the smoke. | Paul Featherstone, who lives nearby, said: "I didn't hear an explosion, I just saw the smoke. |
| "If the explosion didn't kill them, the smoke would have done because it was that bad. It was thick, black smoke coming through the roller doors." | "If the explosion didn't kill them, the smoke would have done because it was that bad. It was thick, black smoke coming through the roller doors." |
| He added he was told by another eyewitness that one man ran out "with his arm all ablaze". | He added he was told by another eyewitness that one man ran out "with his arm all ablaze". |
| It is understood this is the man who is now being treated at the QMC. | It is understood this is the man who is now being treated at the QMC. |
| Steve Moore, area manager with Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue Service, said the building appeared to have been the scene "of a very hot fire with a very rapid spread". | Steve Moore, area manager with Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue Service, said the building appeared to have been the scene "of a very hot fire with a very rapid spread". |
| "When the first crews attended they were faced with a really serious fire and a casualty who was outside the building suffering from burns. | "When the first crews attended they were faced with a really serious fire and a casualty who was outside the building suffering from burns. |
| "Their initial reaction was to treat the casualty. The incoming crew then started to fight the fire, it was a really hot, intense fire." | "Their initial reaction was to treat the casualty. The incoming crew then started to fight the fire, it was a really hot, intense fire." |
| 'Great tragedy' | 'Great tragedy' |
| Crews were forced to use hydraulic equipment to get into the unit. | Crews were forced to use hydraulic equipment to get into the unit. |
| "The intensity of the fire buckled the roller shutters and set alight a car outside," he said. | "The intensity of the fire buckled the roller shutters and set alight a car outside," he said. |
| He added: "For all the firefighters I've spoken to this is the most significant loss of life in a fire that they've ever attended." | He added: "For all the firefighters I've spoken to this is the most significant loss of life in a fire that they've ever attended." |
| Dick Holmes, of Lincolnshire Police, said the five dead men had been killed "pretty much outright". | Dick Holmes, of Lincolnshire Police, said the five dead men had been killed "pretty much outright". |
| He described the sixth man as having been "very seriously injured". | He described the sixth man as having been "very seriously injured". |
| The industrial estate was close to the town centre and made up of between 12 and 15 units that were "relatively small", he said. | The industrial estate was close to the town centre and made up of between 12 and 15 units that were "relatively small", he said. |
| Boston Central Councillor Peter Bedford described the incident as a "real shock". | Boston Central Councillor Peter Bedford described the incident as a "real shock". |
| "There is heavy industry in that industrial estate, there's a scrap yard, there's joinery works, it's a real mix." | "There is heavy industry in that industrial estate, there's a scrap yard, there's joinery works, it's a real mix." |
| Boston East councillor Mike Gilbert said: "I'm very anxious to find out exactly what's happened. It's a lot of people dead and a great tragedy." | Boston East councillor Mike Gilbert said: "I'm very anxious to find out exactly what's happened. It's a lot of people dead and a great tragedy." |
| Canon Robin Whitehead, Rector of Boston, said the incident was "extremely sad and tragic". | Canon Robin Whitehead, Rector of Boston, said the incident was "extremely sad and tragic". |
| Broadfield Lane Industrial Estate includes a furniture store, a scrap yard, a tyre firm and a car maintenance business. The site is surrounded by houses and is close to Boston town centre. | Broadfield Lane Industrial Estate includes a furniture store, a scrap yard, a tyre firm and a car maintenance business. The site is surrounded by houses and is close to Boston town centre. |
| Are you in the area? Did you witness the blast? Please use the form below to get in touch with your eyewitness accounts. | Are you in the area? Did you witness the blast? Please use the form below to get in touch with your eyewitness accounts. |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7725 100 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7725 100 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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