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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
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| Major blaze at chemical factory | Major blaze at chemical factory |
| (4 days later) | |
| People have been warned to stay indoors after a massive fire broke out at a chemical works in Crewe. | People have been warned to stay indoors after a massive fire broke out at a chemical works in Crewe. |
| Cheshire Fire Service is treating the blaze at two buildings owned by Aztec Chemicals on Crewe Gates Industrial Estate as a major incident. | Cheshire Fire Service is treating the blaze at two buildings owned by Aztec Chemicals on Crewe Gates Industrial Estate as a major incident. |
| Eighty five firefighters are tackling the fire and businesses and factories within 400 metres have been evacuated. | Eighty five firefighters are tackling the fire and businesses and factories within 400 metres have been evacuated. |
| There are no reports of injuries. The company believes the fire began in a machine which shreds aerosol cans. | There are no reports of injuries. The company believes the fire began in a machine which shreds aerosol cans. |
| Seventeen fire engines, six special appliances, a hazardous materials unit, an aerial applicance and a foam tanker are at the scene. | Seventeen fire engines, six special appliances, a hazardous materials unit, an aerial applicance and a foam tanker are at the scene. |
| Aztec Chemicals spokesman Karl Chadwick said: "If you looked at the fire about 10 minutes after it started, anybody who was in there would have no chance. | Aztec Chemicals spokesman Karl Chadwick said: "If you looked at the fire about 10 minutes after it started, anybody who was in there would have no chance. |
| "But we got everybody out very quickly and as far as we know nobody in the surrounding area has been injured." | "But we got everybody out very quickly and as far as we know nobody in the surrounding area has been injured." |
| 'Like a tornado' | 'Like a tornado' |
| Eye witnesses have reported hearing popping sounds from the plant and police have advised people to stay indoors and close all doors and windows. | Eye witnesses have reported hearing popping sounds from the plant and police have advised people to stay indoors and close all doors and windows. |
| As we know nobody in the surrounding area has been injured at all Karl Chadwick, Aztec Chemicals The blaze in pictures | As we know nobody in the surrounding area has been injured at all Karl Chadwick, Aztec Chemicals The blaze in pictures |
| Hugh Wilson, who is a student at the nearby South Cheshire College, said: "We saw a huge amount of smoke going up into the sky and that was when we were about three miles away from where we are now. | Hugh Wilson, who is a student at the nearby South Cheshire College, said: "We saw a huge amount of smoke going up into the sky and that was when we were about three miles away from where we are now. |
| "When we were getting close it was like a tornado, it was just twisting, there was just so much smoke. | "When we were getting close it was like a tornado, it was just twisting, there was just so much smoke. |
| "It's just absolutely huge. I can't explain the smell but it's not very nice when you get close up." | "It's just absolutely huge. I can't explain the smell but it's not very nice when you get close up." |
| Resident Kevin Jones said: "There's been a horrendous amount of banging and popping - canisters or whatever have been exploding - it sounded like a firework display, it was that loud." | Resident Kevin Jones said: "There's been a horrendous amount of banging and popping - canisters or whatever have been exploding - it sounded like a firework display, it was that loud." |
| Initially a 200m exclusion zone was imposed, but this was extended to 400m because of the volume of smoke. | Initially a 200m exclusion zone was imposed, but this was extended to 400m because of the volume of smoke. |
| 'Find shelter indoors' | 'Find shelter indoors' |
| A Cheshire Fire Service spokeswoman said: "We are concentrating on cooling a number of gas cylinders close to the buildings and fighting the fire." | A Cheshire Fire Service spokeswoman said: "We are concentrating on cooling a number of gas cylinders close to the buildings and fighting the fire." |
| Cheshire Police said the evacuated properties were industrial and business premises and did not include homes or schools. | Cheshire Police said the evacuated properties were industrial and business premises and did not include homes or schools. |
| Parents were asked to pick up their children from local schools as normal. | Parents were asked to pick up their children from local schools as normal. |
| A spokesman added: "Outside the exclusion zone, the advice for people walking into the path of the smoke from the fire is to find shelter indoors and keep windows and doors closed." | A spokesman added: "Outside the exclusion zone, the advice for people walking into the path of the smoke from the fire is to find shelter indoors and keep windows and doors closed." |
| Motorists have been advised to avoid roads in the area and Crewe town centre as congestion builds from the diversions in place. | Motorists have been advised to avoid roads in the area and Crewe town centre as congestion builds from the diversions in place. |
| The roads closed are the A5020 at the junction with the A500, the A534 at the Crewe Green roundabout - which carries traffic towards Crewe railway station - Macon Way at the junction with Hungerford Road and Nantwich Road at the junction with Millfield Street. | The roads closed are the A5020 at the junction with the A500, the A534 at the Crewe Green roundabout - which carries traffic towards Crewe railway station - Macon Way at the junction with Hungerford Road and Nantwich Road at the junction with Millfield Street. |
| British Transport Police said the train timetable had not been affected and trains were still moving. | British Transport Police said the train timetable had not been affected and trains were still moving. |
Are you affected by the blaze? Send us your experiences using the form below. | |