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| Explosion at a Stafford fireworks factory leaves at least five injured | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| At least five people have been injured in a blast at a fireworks factory. | |
| Police said emergency services were responding to an explosion and fire in Tilcon Avenue, Stafford. | Police said emergency services were responding to an explosion and fire in Tilcon Avenue, Stafford. |
| West Midlands ambulance service said it was treating patients suffering from burns and smoke inhalation. | |
| Worried local residents heard “a loud bang” and saw smoke coming from the factory. Photographs on Twitter show a dramatic scene, with fireworks shooting out of the building and thick plumes of black smoke. | |
| Staffordshire police urged people to stay indoors, adding: “A cordon is in place to protect the public and we are urging those in the area to remain indoors with windows closed.” | Staffordshire police urged people to stay indoors, adding: “A cordon is in place to protect the public and we are urging those in the area to remain indoors with windows closed.” |
| Five fire engines were rushed to the scene along with specialist equipment after the alarm was raised at 5.15pm. Staffordshire fire and rescue said three more fire engines had been sent later and were still working to control the fire. It said that a nearby train line was open, but that trains were running cautiously. | |
| West Midlands ambulance service said it had sent four ambulances, a hazardous area response team, four emergency doctors, five paramedic officers and two rapid response vehicles. | |
| It said: “Two patients are being taken to the major trauma centre at University Hospital North Staffordshire. One has burns, the other has smoke inhalation. Two further patients have been discharged on scene. A further patient has minor injuries.” | |
| The cause of the incident is not known, but fire crews have urged local residents to remain indoors and close their windows. Several roads have been closed off and police are evacuating a number of homes in the area. | |
| The fire has already caused a roof to collapse and has affected five businesses within one unit, according to local newspaper reports. | |
| Onlooker Mike Hillman said he was watching from Tixall Road, adding “massive fire, loads of smoke this way, hope everyone is OK”. He tweeted: “Hoping everyone is OK over there, looks like it has spread down the whole row of units on that side of the estate.” |