Avon Fire & Rescue Service (AF&RS) alongside Avon and
Somerset Constabulary, BOC, Bristol City Council, Great Western
Ambulance Service, Health & Safety Executive, Health &
Safety Laboratories and Network Rail has now been able to conclude
the operation at the BOC site on Whitby Road.
Earlier today the agencies initiated an agreed action plan to
bring this incident to a close. The intervention to put out the
fire this afternoon was concluded safely and successfully seeing
six fire appliances, the High Volume Pump and other support
vehicles involved.
Following last Thursday’s explosion the multiagency team has
been faced with a complex and highly unusual situation. The
incident has seen a multiagency approach, drawing on expertise from
both the UK and abroad with regard to the potential risks on
site.
Group Manager Kevin Keeler said: “Over the last week all those
involved have been working around the clock to determine the risks
and how best to deal with them. Today, scientific evaluation on
site reached the conclusion that it was now safe to extinguish the
fire.”
As a result of the successful firefighting operation all cordons
on Whitby Road have been reduced to the confines of the BOC site
only.
GM Keeler added: “The safe conclusion of this incident has
demonstrated how all agencies can come together in support of each
other to resolve a complex incident. On behalf of these
agencies I would like to thank the business community and local
people for their patience and understanding during this
incident.”