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Fire crews tackle factory blaze Fire crews tackle factory blaze
(about 1 hour later)
Workers and residents near a major factory blaze were told to close windows and stay inside as firefighters tackled the flames.Workers and residents near a major factory blaze were told to close windows and stay inside as firefighters tackled the flames.
The blaze at a windows, doors and conservatory company in Carmarthenshire was treated as a major incident by Mid and West Wales Fire Service.The blaze at a windows, doors and conservatory company in Carmarthenshire was treated as a major incident by Mid and West Wales Fire Service.
The fire at Nolan uPVC at Llanstephan Road, Johnstown, Carmarthen, was reported at about 1020 GMT.The fire at Nolan uPVC at Llanstephan Road, Johnstown, Carmarthen, was reported at about 1020 GMT.
Fourteen appliances were sent, and the blaze is now said to be under control.Fourteen appliances were sent, and the blaze is now said to be under control.
Fire crews are expected to remain at the scene to dampen down the building, which is the former St Ivel site.Fire crews are expected to remain at the scene to dampen down the building, which is the former St Ivel site.
Dyfed-Powys Police have closed roads in the immediate proximity.Dyfed-Powys Police have closed roads in the immediate proximity.
There was a real acrid smell in the area - it was horrible, catching you in the back of your throat Eye-witnessThere was a real acrid smell in the area - it was horrible, catching you in the back of your throat Eye-witness
Appliances were sent from around the area, including Tenby, Narberth and Lampeter.Appliances were sent from around the area, including Tenby, Narberth and Lampeter.
Besides the appliances, aerial pumps from Haverfordwest and Morriston also attended, along with a water bowser from Tumble and a high volume pump from Ammanford.Besides the appliances, aerial pumps from Haverfordwest and Morriston also attended, along with a water bowser from Tumble and a high volume pump from Ammanford.
One eye-witness, who was driving from St Clears towards Carmarthen, said: "When we got to Carmarthen from the roundabout there were plumes of black, dark, thick smoke coming out from around the factory site.One eye-witness, who was driving from St Clears towards Carmarthen, said: "When we got to Carmarthen from the roundabout there were plumes of black, dark, thick smoke coming out from around the factory site.
Heavy smokeHeavy smoke
"My cousin was in the car and he said he could see flames coming from the building."My cousin was in the car and he said he could see flames coming from the building.
"There was a real acrid smell in the area - it was horrible, catching you in the back of your throat.""There was a real acrid smell in the area - it was horrible, catching you in the back of your throat."
Assistant chief fire officer Paul Bates said the cause of the blaze was not yet known.Assistant chief fire officer Paul Bates said the cause of the blaze was not yet known.
He added: "We were initially faced with a fire in an unused part of the building which was rapidly spreading and heading towards the production area of the window company.He added: "We were initially faced with a fire in an unused part of the building which was rapidly spreading and heading towards the production area of the window company.
The factory is in the Johnstown area of CarmarthenThe factory is in the Johnstown area of Carmarthen
"We're currently trying to prevent the fire from spreading from the unoccupied area into the occupied area but as you can see, the units are quite large.""We're currently trying to prevent the fire from spreading from the unoccupied area into the occupied area but as you can see, the units are quite large."
Carmarthenshire council said slip roads and other routes to Johnstown had been closed due to the heavy smoke.Carmarthenshire council said slip roads and other routes to Johnstown had been closed due to the heavy smoke.
School pupils and those using social care centres in the area were advised to stay indoors with the windows closed.School pupils and those using social care centres in the area were advised to stay indoors with the windows closed.
The council said it was not expecting evacuations to be necessary.The council said it was not expecting evacuations to be necessary.
However, Queen Elizabeth High School, which is nearby, was due to finish early for the day because of traffic problems.However, Queen Elizabeth High School, which is nearby, was due to finish early for the day because of traffic problems.
Police asked anyone planning to pick up children from the school was asked to go to the Nantyci showground, where the children were being taken by bus.Police asked anyone planning to pick up children from the school was asked to go to the Nantyci showground, where the children were being taken by bus.
Children who normally walk home were being escorted safely past the scene of the fire, and they could then make their own way home.Children who normally walk home were being escorted safely past the scene of the fire, and they could then make their own way home.
Pupils who normally get a school bus home were collected as usual.Pupils who normally get a school bus home were collected as usual.
Environment Agency Wales said its officers were helping fire officers to ensure that water used to put out the fire had "minimal pollution risk to the nearby Tywi river".Environment Agency Wales said its officers were helping fire officers to ensure that water used to put out the fire had "minimal pollution risk to the nearby Tywi river".
They were also monitoring the smoke because they said it had the potential to be toxic.They were also monitoring the smoke because they said it had the potential to be toxic.


Have you been affected by the fire? Send us your pictures or comments.Have you been affected by the fire? Send us your pictures or comments.
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You can also send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to 61124 or if you have a large file you can upload here.You can also send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to 61124 or if you have a large file you can upload here.
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Below is a selection of comments received so far:Below is a selection of comments received so far:
i was in the school at roughly 0900 hours and the school fire alarm went off. as we were leaving the building we could smell smoke and thought our school was on fire. we were sent to the school safety point when a huge black cloud could be seen behind the school.
we were trapped in school for the duration of the day as the toxins could have damaged our health. mitchell escott-sloan, carmarthen, wales
I attend Queen Elizabeth High School, and we had already had an incident of a small fire in the DT block during first lesson causing us to spend most of it lined up on the astro turf. It was during break time that pupils spotted the extra fire engines arriving and the smoke. We then had regular instructions on what to do and updates on the situation on the fire in Nolans over the Tannoy system. We had to shut all windows in the school and no pupils or staff were permitted to leave the school during the day. We had to spend our lunch time sitting in classrooms under supervision. The end of the school day was as normal for me though as I catch a bus home.Gerard Westhoff, Kidwelly
I'm a pupil at qehs and i saw the fire just as it started. i was going to call the fire brigade but saw them coming then there was a tonne of smoke coming up a hour later & we had to stay inside the school it was horrible. we were hot & moody & the fire service had already been called to our school that day when a machine in the design technology area caught fire. it was a very strange dayfrancesca rowe-weller, carmarthen
i am from Queen Elizabeth High School, and the windows were shut all day! and the doors! we were told by the police and fire fighter team to stay into the school building because they didn't know what gasses were given off, and if they were poisonous or not! Rebecca Louise Bevan, Carmarthen, Johnstown
I'm from Queen Elizabeth High School, and I was outside when I noticed thick black smoke coming from the building, from my perspective I initially thought that it was the social care centre, but quickly realised that it was actually the factory behind. For about half an hour, a few other sixth formers and I watched the smoke and eventually were asked to go inside the school. We were instructed to keep all windows and doors closed, and keep the air conditioning off which as I'm sure you can imagine, wasn't pleasant. There were rumours going around the school that we would have to say until 5pm. However, thankfully this was not the case. Bekah, Carmarthen
i am from queen elizabeth high school near the fire, we have been told that we are not allowed to leave early. through out the day we have had to keep the windows and doors shut as instructed by the police.Harley and Adam, carmarthen, walesi am from queen elizabeth high school near the fire, we have been told that we are not allowed to leave early. through out the day we have had to keep the windows and doors shut as instructed by the police.Harley and Adam, carmarthen, wales
I'm in QEHS and been stuck in school all day not niceJack Milsom, johnstownI'm in QEHS and been stuck in school all day not niceJack Milsom, johnstown