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Crews tackle fire at Langley Green distillery | Crews tackle fire at Langley Green distillery |
(35 minutes later) | |
Homes have been evacuated as more than 100 firefighters tackle a large fire at a distillery in the Black Country. | |
More than 24 fire engines were sent to the fire at Alcohols Ltd, in Crosswells Road, Langley Green, which started shortly before 10:00 GMT. | |
A man in his 20s has been taken to hospital, suffering from burns. | A man in his 20s has been taken to hospital, suffering from burns. |
Some residents said they believed the fire, near a level crossing, had spread to nearby homes. Eyewitnesses have also described hearing explosions. | |
Darren O'Neil, whose house backs on to the factory, said he looked out of his bedroom window and saw the fire burning. | Darren O'Neil, whose house backs on to the factory, said he looked out of his bedroom window and saw the fire burning. |
He said he then heard a scream and saw a worker "covered head to toes in flames". | |
A spokesman for West Midlands Ambulance Service said a man in his 20s had been treated at the scene for burns to his back and a hand before being taken to the specialist burns unit at Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital. | |
BBC WM reporter James Bovill, who is at the scene, said there had been several explosions, followed by some "fireballs" from the factory. | |
He added there was no sign the fire would be put out "any time soon". | He added there was no sign the fire would be put out "any time soon". |
Tim Pye, who lives opposite the distillery, said firefighters were dousing down his house. | Tim Pye, who lives opposite the distillery, said firefighters were dousing down his house. |
He said after the fire started, he looked out and "just saw orange" and could feel the heat of the fire from his front room. | He said after the fire started, he looked out and "just saw orange" and could feel the heat of the fire from his front room. |
Debbie Horton, who also lives nearby, said: "I don't know anything - what's going to happen to my house, or the cars that are outside. | Debbie Horton, who also lives nearby, said: "I don't know anything - what's going to happen to my house, or the cars that are outside. |
"It's very worrying." | "It's very worrying." |
People reported seeing thick black smoke from several miles away, including from the M5. | People reported seeing thick black smoke from several miles away, including from the M5. |
'Really stretched' | |
West Midlands Police said Crosswells Road, Tat Banks Road, and the Western Road and Vicarage Road junction with Dog Kennel Lane were closed. | West Midlands Police said Crosswells Road, Tat Banks Road, and the Western Road and Vicarage Road junction with Dog Kennel Lane were closed. |
Thompson Road and New Henry Street have also been shut. | Thompson Road and New Henry Street have also been shut. |
Sandwell Borough Council said police were moving people living and working within a 100m radius of the site. | Sandwell Borough Council said police were moving people living and working within a 100m radius of the site. |
Moat Farm Junior School has been opened for refuge for those evacuated from their homes. | Moat Farm Junior School has been opened for refuge for those evacuated from their homes. |
London Midland said the fire was affecting services between Snow Hill and Stourbridge. | London Midland said the fire was affecting services between Snow Hill and Stourbridge. |
It said the Midlands Metro was accepting tickets to the Hawthorns ground, while Network West Midlands was accepting them on its nine, 120 and 127 bus services. | It said the Midlands Metro was accepting tickets to the Hawthorns ground, while Network West Midlands was accepting them on its nine, 120 and 127 bus services. |
Malcolm Fellows, from West Midlands Fire Service, said crews from across the West Midlands had been called in to help with the fire. | |
He added: "We're really stretched." | |
Surinder Sohal, who runs a nearby business, said he saw flames that were 40ft to 50ft high. | Surinder Sohal, who runs a nearby business, said he saw flames that were 40ft to 50ft high. |
He said: "It's really, really bad. | He said: "It's really, really bad. |
"It's been burning for about three hours at the moment and there doesn't seem to be any chance of it stopping. You can feel the heat, even standing 300-400 yards away." | "It's been burning for about three hours at the moment and there doesn't seem to be any chance of it stopping. You can feel the heat, even standing 300-400 yards away." |
The Environment Agency also said it was at the scene to check on the environmental impact of the fire. | The Environment Agency also said it was at the scene to check on the environmental impact of the fire. |