Fire out and cordon lifted at Whitby Road incident

Details

Friday, 15 January 2010 16:48

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.”