Bentley blaze evacuation (From Warrington Guardian)

Bentley blaze evacuation

HUNDREDS of Bentley workers were evacuated from the Crewe factory last week as a blaze took hold at the Pym's Lane plant.

Four men, including two firefighters were taken to Leighton Hospital following the fire, which halted production at about 7.15 on Thursday evening.

One of the casualties was kept in hospital overnight after the blaze in the disused plating hall.

The two Bentley workers taken to hospital were guards at the factory. All suffered from smoke inhalation.

The fire is being blamed on the use of cutting equipment, which is being used as a part of the company's refurbishment of the plating hall.

Five fire engines and a hydraulic platform were needed to tackle the large blaze, which sent plumes of black smoke billowing into the sky.

A Cheshire Fire Service spokesman said: "It was a large fire in a central part of the factory, which had taken a fairly strong hold, but we were able to get it under control again within 90 minutes.

"We think the use of cutting equipment may have caused the fire.

"The company is working in that part of the factory stripping out old fibre glass tanks and may have, without knowing, ignited something and then left to go home."

A company spokesman said the fire broke out during a shift change and disruption was minimal.

He said: "All associates were evacuated to a safe distance to allow the emergency services access.

"The fire began at 7.15pm and it was brought under control within a short period of time. The fire is not expected to further disrupt production."